Key Highlights
Postal services hit as Sify service withdrawn: AIPEU Group ‘C’ expresses concern
Date: 08-11-2024
Non-Working Sify Services NSP 1 In Postal Department: As part of a recent communication to the Director General, Department of Posts, the All India Postal Employees Union Group ‘C’ has brought to his notice a serious issue about the disconnection of postal services on account of the Sify non-functioning of the NSP-1 network. The present operator, Sify, has withdrawn its services from many places in the country and hence is bringing about this problem.
Official Letter Of this Matter
ALL INDIA POSTAL EMPLOYEES UNION GROUP ‘C’
CHQ: Dada Ghosh Bhawan, 2151/1, New Patel Road, New Delhi – 110008
President:A. Veeramani Ph.: 07010280176 General Secretary: Naresh Gupta Ph.: 09416470848
E-mail: aipeugroupc.chq@gmail.com Website: www.aipeup3chq.com
Ref: P/4-5/Postal Operations Dated – 08.11.2024
To
Sh. Sanjay Sharan Ji
Director General
Department of Posts
Dak Bhawan, New Delhi-110001
Sub: – Regarding paralyse of postal services due to non working of NSP-1.
Sir,
is brought to your kind notice that the Sr. GM (EB-I), BSNL CO, New Delhi vide letter No. BSNLCO-EB-1/11(11)/5/2024-EB-1 dated 04.11.2024 addressed to All CGMs, BSNL in which it has been mentioned that the Department of Posts has intimated that the current operator i.e. Sify has withdrawn its services (Copy enclosed).
In this context it is submitted that this matter is of great concern as our all locations are running through Sify operators.
Due to withdrawal of Sify operator, in most of the areas our services have been paralysed. As one side we are focusing to provide door step services to the public and earn more business but other side we are not able to focus on such technical issues. This is a great mistake on our part as in the present scenario public is not likely to wait for services. This also shows that we have no backup plan in this technology scenario which is very much required in such circumstances.
It is therefore requested to kindly intervene in the matter and cause restoration of the network in full swing so that the staff may be able to provide postal services to the public as per their expectations and also request to make a backup plan in respect of all technology related issues likewise sufficient stock of Switch at Divisional office.
With regards,
Yours sincerely,
(Naresh Gupta) General Secretary
Copy to:-
- The Member (Technology), Department of Posts, Dak Bhawan, New Delhi-110001
- The Member (Banking), Department of Posts, Dak Bhawan, New Delhi-110001
Background of the Issue
The correspondence dated 4th November 2024 from the Senior General Manager (EB-I) BSNL CO, New Delhi, communicated to the Department of Posts that Sify has discontinued its services. According to his letter, all locations dependent on the network of Sify have been suffering from very significant disruptions. The paralysis of the postal services arising out of this has caused damage to both doorstep delivery and customer-facing operations.
Impact on Postal Services
As a part of its commitment towards offering efficient doorstep services, the Department of Posts had been relying heavily on the Sify network, which is now shut down. The sudden stoppage also is hindering postal staff from serving the public properly. The union has underlined the fact that at a time when efforts are being made to expand services and earn more business, technical reliability is going amiss.
The AIPEU Group ‘C’ also raised objection on not having contingency planning for their service loss. The letter states that the patience of the public is running out of breath, and in such a high-speed scenario, the services are no more tolerated if the delay happens.
Accelerate the Intervention Process
The General Secretary of the AIPEU Group ‘C’ has written a letter to the Director General of the Department of Posts. Naresh Gupta requests the Director General to intervene immediately in view of the crisis that resulted in taking the network off. The union called upon an early revival of the network so that services by postal employees can be resumed in full scale.
The union has also approached the Department of Posts to take proactive measures and to evolve a sound backup plan in case of a disruption in the technology. The union has also underscored the need to keep the essential stock of the switches at Divisional Offices to enable smooth running of the operations in the eventuality also.
A Wake-up Call for Technology in Postal Operations
This, therefore, is a wake-up call to the Department of Posts and the Postal Ministry always to develop an efficient backup strategy on issues of technology development. As the postal network expands continuously, it is essential that the Department of Posts effectively adapts to technological challenges that prevent services from being suspended temporarily or permanently before the people.
In fact, the AIPEU Group ‘C’ rightly pointed out that without deep blueprint in place, Department of Posts might face even more challenges when technology will play role of more importance in postal operations.
Conclusion
The withdrawal of services by Sify has put a stop to all kinds of postal operations in numerous regions; the people themselves and their workers are irritated about this, and therefore the AIPEU Group ‘C’ actively worked over it and submitted an appeal seeking service restoration while demanding speedy measures with provision for a plausible fall back mechanism wherein the loss of service is retrieved.
The Department of Posts has to act now and take the necessary measures, so that the postal services do not face any further delays. Otherwise, such an unpleasant situation should not draw ahead without making it succeed in meeting the expectations of the public.
Watch this space for updates on this issue by Postal Corner.
