Postal powerhouse: Modi government achieves milestone in reinventing India's post offices

The timeless melody of_Sandese Aate Hain_from the cinematic masterpiece Border resonates with the profound significance that written letters held in the lives of ordinary Indians. More than mere pieces of paper, these letters embodied emotions, connecting hearts across distances. In an era preceding the ubiquity of modern technology, the very thought of a world without this form of heartfelt communication was inconceivable. Central to this fabric of emotions were the post offices. The post offices served as the vital conduits through which emotions traversed the physical miles. In a world where pen met paper before pixels, these post offices were the sanctuaries of sentiments, faithfully carrying the dreams, aspirations, and love of countless individuals. Post offices can be colloquially compared to servers of today’s messaging platforms like WhatsApp. Nevertheless, with the dawn of modern technology, the charm of post offices began to wane, and the looming fear of obsolescence cast a shadow over these once-vital institutions. Unfortunately, the government at the time seemed reluctant to revive them, allowing these integral connectors of emotions to gradually fade into the background. The prospect of their complete phase-out seemed imminent. However, in 2014, a significant shift occurred in the power dynamics, bringing Prime Minister Narendra Modi into leadership, and with it, a transformative vision for Indian post offices. Recognising the untapped potential of the extensive post office network, Prime Minister Modi established a task force in 2014 to harness its capabilities. By 2015, he urged the utilisation of post offices for delivering various services and information, envisioning their role as a driving force for the economy, akin to the railways. The government astutely acknowledged the far-reaching presence of post offices, even in the remotest corners of the country, and strategically utilised this vast network. Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, a comprehensive plan was set into motion, resulting in the creation of nearly 5,000 new post offices. This marked a departure from traditional mail services to embrace more versatile and robust service delivery systems, reflecting a commitment to modernising and optimising the potential of post offices to serve the diverse needs of the nation. From 2004 to 2014, 660 post offices were closed but from 2014 to 2023, around 5,000 post offices were opened and about 5,746 new ones are in the process of being opened as of today. Further, 1.6 lakh post offices have been connected with core banking and digital banking facilities. Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, 434 post offices have processed more than 1.25 crore passport applications and 13,500 “post office Aadhaar Seva Kendra” have been opened. In the last nine years, the India Post Payment Bank, a big medium of converting the postal system into a banking system, has opened 3.5 crore accounts for women. It is under this larger plan to revive the post offices that culminated in the passage of the New Post Office Bill in the Rajya Sabha on 4 December. This important legislation updates and replaces the old Post Office Act of 1898, securing the continued functionality of the postal department. The essence of the bill lies in ensuring that post offices serve as both reliable messenger services and essential providers of banking facilities. The passage of the Post Office Bill highlights the government’s proactive approach to modernizing post offices to meet the diverse needs of the nation. The need for this new legislation arises from a fundamental shift in the functions of post offices, where the conventional role of mail delivery has transcended into a more diversified spectrum of services. In the contemporary landscape, the emphasis has shifted significantly from traditional postal activities to a multifaceted portfolio, with banking and various ancillary services now at the forefront. Recognising this transformative evolution, it becomes important to enact legislation that aligns with the current operational dynamics of post offices. The legislation acknowledges and regulates the expanded roles of post offices, encompassing functions that extend beyond mail delivery. Post offices now serve not only the custodians of correspondence but also as banking entities, passport seva kendras, Aadhaar seva kendras, and even export centres. In essence, the new legislation is a strategic response to the evolving responsibilities shouldered by post offices, ensuring that they are equipped with a regulatory framework that aptly mirrors their contemporary and multifunctional nature. The recent bill has faced unwarranted criticism, particularly directed at its ninth and tenth clauses, which address the interception of shipments transmitted through the postal system and the exemption of liability, respectively. In response to concerns about interception, it is crucial to underscore that national security takes precedence over anything else, and measures such as interception are indispensable to safeguarding it against potential threats. Regarding the issue of liability, the legislation explicitly outlines that liabilities exist concerning the services rendered by the post office. The no liabilities clause has been given only in the case of employees because they are considered public servants. It’s worth noting that these clauses are not novel, as they find their roots in the earlier 1898 Post Office Act, where Sections 25 and 26 address interception, while Sections 6 and 48 delineate exemptions of liability. Therefore, the criticisms levied against these clauses are misinformed, as they represent a continuation of established legal provisions aimed at upholding national security and ensuring accountability in postal services. Overall the bill stands as a significant stride towards liberating post offices from the constraints of antiquated colonial legislation, ushering in a transformative era. By shedding the shackles of an obsolete law, this legislation embodies a forward-looking approach aimed at integrating post offices seamlessly into the fabric of contemporary life. More than a mere legal overhaul, it represents a deliberate effort to reinvigorate these venerable institutions and reintegrate them into the daily lives of ordinary individuals. In doing so, the bill not only embraces progress but also seeks to revive the nostalgic charm of the post office, infusing it with renewed relevance and purpose. This legislative initiative, therefore, serves as a pivotal moment in breaking free from colonial remnants, fostering a modern and dynamic vision for post offices that resonates with the pulse of the present. Tuhin A Sinha is a best-selling author and the national spokesperson of BJP and Nishant Kumar Hota is a public policy consultant. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views. 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