Tough and reliable work horse!. Review on Department of Posts

Thats how I would start by describing the Dept. of Posts in out country. Out of all the the departments I find this particular department working in the most untiring way day in and day out. Getting a letter from Bangalore to Delhi may seem easy to many, with the numerous courier services available, but try sending one from the depth of India and you will find all those commercial set-ups deserting you in the wink of an eye. Even if someone risks it he is certain to disappoint you. From one corner of the country to another ...rather from any corner of the country to another you can use the services of this department to send letters. And the letter is certain to reach the address. To me the volume of letters it handles and the area it covers is unthinkable. Its reach extend to areas that do not have the basic amenities of drinking water, power and even roads. And whom do we have to thank for all this... our hardworking postman.

I have heard many claim how they have lost or never recieved letters. But personally I have never experienced this. Maybe parcels and goods have been found damaged or missing but letters ...never. I have in fact recieved numerous book-posts with intact contents.(Book-posts cannot be sealed) On the other hand I have had bad experiences with some of these local courier services. Not only did they fail to deliver the goods as promised but took hefty sums and failed to satisfy me. The postal department has a speed post service and it does not make out-of-the-way claims and whatever time period it claims it requires to deliver it does so within that period. I have been very satisfied with its service. Once in fact there was a delay in sending an application form but the dept. personnel were generous enough to make calls personally to find out why the letter had got delayed and made sure it reached in time. Try the same with any other commercial courier service and you are likely to end up banging your head against the wall. Although I have not tried established courier services like blue dart and all but I am aware of the money they charge. When you have an over worked dept. delivering your letters at half the rate and in time I do not have to look upto these big players. And can anyone tell me where I can find them. Post office...right down there on the left hand side of the road! Ask anyone and they will direct you to the nearest one.

Admitted many are located in dingy rooms in the corner of an old building but I have always found them charming. And have you noticed the changes they have undergone. Many of them have spruced up their surroundings. I know one particular office in Mangalore that has an air-conditioned office with a plush sitting area and music to soothen your ears. And it was nto the head post office. The same is true for many of them in Mysore...all spic and clean. Yes, one may say they are reacting to the entry of big players but hello atleast now you can appreciate them for what they are doing . Even the postage stamps look beautiful. I have not found any courier service offering me stamps! Ha ha ha ... this may sound funny but thats where the difference lies. The courier service is there to make money while the Dept. of postage is there to serve you and retain the charm of stamps, envelopes nad post cards.

I believe this dept. was one among the first to make use of computer technology and this led to speed post. I know, I know they do not use stamps but bar codes but for people like you who believe in service there could not be a better way of sending it more safely. And remember as I said before the latter is tracked on its way to its destination.

When it comes to sending parcels I must sound a note of caution. I have heard many lament over opened or empty parcels. It is for this reason that the Dept. introduced registered post and now with speed post you have hardly people using this service, at least I do not. Moreover if you are still not sure you can always insure your parcel and all this for a very small amount. One must be careful when sending parcels through post.

But the one man I really feel sorry for is the postman. Our postman in Mysore cycles up and down in the hot sun or the pouring rain delivering letters, and all for a very paltry sum. Have you ever heard about postal strikes in this country...very rare, indeed.

Of late I have not come across complaints of bad service from anyone in particular. Maybe no one is sending letters through post or they are using e-mail or SMS on mobile... or maybe they are satisfied with its services! Whatever, I alongwith those thousands who depend on the department for delivering our letters come what may can only thank them earnestly and hope that others were more appreciative of such selfless service.