In technology-driven era, Tamil Nadu postal circle delivers 5 percent growth

Dismissing the notion that post offices are slowly losing their identity to the advent of a more technologically advanced era of e-mails, courier services and social media, those in Tamil Nadu have registered a positive growth of five per cent in 2017-18 when compared to the previous financial year.

In 2017-18, the total revenue of Tamil Nadu postal circle was Rs1,143 crore. The total revenue collected in 2016-17 was Rs 1,088 crore.

On the insurance front, for the first time in the history of the Postal Department in the country, the total premium amount collected had crossed Rs 1,000 crore in Tamil Nadu postal circle in 2017-18, and none of the postal circles in the country have achieved this feat so far. Also in Tamil Nadu, 100 per cent insurance coverage had been achieved in 144 villages and this too is largest in the country.

To recognise the contribution of the postal department employees circle, a level excellence award function was conducted in Chennai on Saturday, and in the function, 42 awards in various categories were distributed, both for the postal divisions and for the individuals who had exhibited exemplary performance in the previous financial year.

Usha Chandra Sekhar, Member (Operations), Postal Services Board, who was the chief guest at the event, said that postal services had survived many scares in the past and is one of the most resilient departments. “When telephone was introduced people thought that postal department would lose its relevance but it survived. When telegraph was introduced, people thought that a much faster communication channel was introduced and the posts will not survive yet it stood strong. When e-mail was introduced people thought that it was end of postal department but with diversification, postal department is still gaining strength,” she said.

She also compared the postal department to an elephant. “Like the elephant, the postal department will take its time but march steadily. People still prefer postal services for its credibility and accountability,” Usha concluded.

With the Speed Post segment remaining the single largest contributor to the Postal Department (Tamil Nadu circle) earnings, bringing in Rs 143.35 crore, best performing postman and postwoman in the category were rewarded at an event held here on Saturday.

NS Venkatesh, marketing executive, Park Town Post Office, who received the first prize in Speed Post category, said that banks are his major clients and round-the-clock service helped him to maintain the client base.

Murugavalli, postwoman, Paramakudi Head Post Office, bagged the first prize in delivering the maximum percentage of Speed Posts in one year. Her delivery rate was more than 98 per cent.

“Postal services are more personal in the era of social media interaction,” she said.

Among the total 42 awards given during the function, nine were for outstanding individual performances, while the remaining 33 were given for the top postal divisions. Nine awards were given in ‘Business Development category’.