Jai Ho!!. Review on Speed Post

I first started availing of speed post services of India post to send electronically-filed income tax returns to the cpc in Bangalore for acknowledgement. There was not much choice in this, anyway, given the income tax department’s diktat .

Then disillusioned with professional couriers, Bangalore, and in the absence of easy access to other couriers in my neighbourhood, while at the same time having access to two post offices in the vicinity, with great trepidation, i thought of, and started availing the services of speed post.

I was hesitant initially to avail speed post services, given the long winding queues at the post offices, and their snail-paced movements. I was also apprehensive of the timely delivery of my documents, given our inborn reservations about the quality of services, and their accountability, in the government sector, we in india have come to associate with .

Nevertheless, to record the brighter side of things:

I) surprises never cease. Till date, i have sent several documents to institutions like banks, insurance companies, and mutual funds, and i have found the speed post delivery services prompt, and economical. *touchwood!

Ii) the online keying in of dispatch details into the system, at the speed post centre, in the sender’s presence, and the application of bar code technology is a welcome aspect.

Iii) i have been able to access the delivery status, on real-time basis, both on my cell phone(by typing ek space, then document no space, then in as an sms to 55352 @ rs3 per sms query), and on the India post website indiapost.gov.in , without any major glitches, till date.

Tracking online had been a major problem with professional couriers, where the lag time for updates were 2 or 3 days after delivery, and sometimes, indefinite .

Maybe my euphoria may not last long, and disillusionment may set in sometime, but tomorrow is another day! As of today, let me, at least for once, give this much-maligned government department, india post, and its speed post service, some genuine credit, they deserve.

So bouquets for now, the brickbats can wait for another Postscript :

A)post office services:

I)there were 155, 015 post offices(as at 31-03-2009) in india, and this is the most widely distributed network in the world.

Ii) however, most post offices are in rural areas(89.76%), and many of these are not computerised.

B)speed post services:

I) Speed post links more than 1200 towns in India, with 290 speed post centres in the national network and around 1000 speed post centres in the state network.

Ii) The ‘one India, one network’ concept, where there is a uniform rate of Rs. 25 for up to a 50 grams packet anywhere in India from Kashmir to Kanyakumari is a revolutionary concept. Beyond 50 grams, weight and distance considerations come into play.

Iii) For local deliveries, the charges are only rs 12 for consignments up to 50 grams.

The above charges are more economical than those of private couriers, and are a major consideration for consignments sent in bulk. However, the grey areas, which many believe, need resolution, for both( a) and(b)are:

I) the service standards, and accountability in the matter of proper deliverables, need improvement.

Ii) the postal staff, including postmen, need to be trained to be more sensitive and responsive to customer requirements.

Iii)computerisation of all post offices.the 11th and 12th five year plans of the government are working on this aspect.