“Forward ever, backward never: onwards with Breaking Through”

Email reply from Secretary, Posts regarding Preventive Measures and Operations issues

From: Secretary Posts <secretary-posts@indiapost.gov.in>
Date: Sun, Mar 29, 2020 at 10:12 AM
Subject: Re: Requisition to ensure the functioning of Post Offices in Tamil Nadu in tune with the Health Ministry guidelines
To: SU VE <suvempoffice@gmail.com>

Dear Sir,
We have already instructed all our Heads of Postal Circles to bring minimum required staff to the Post Offices and also maintain all preventive measures as per the guidelines of DoPT and MoHFW.
Warm regards,
Pradipta Kumar Bisoi
Secretary
Department of Posts
Dak Bhawan,
NEW DELHI-110001


From: SU VE <suvempoffice@gmail.com>
Sent: 28 March 2020 22:45
To: Secretary Posts
Subject: Requisition to ensure the functioning of Post Offices in Tamil Nadu in tune with the Health Ministry guidelines
The Secretary, Department of Posts & Chair Person, Postal Service Board, New Delhi.
Dear Sir, Sh. Pradipta Kumar Bisoi
Sub: Reported problems in keeping the Post offices open at this Critical hours – Preventive Measures to combat COVID19 - Strict adherence of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Department of Personnel and Training advisories.
The functioning of the Post Offices requires a relook in the wake of Health Ministries advices on COVID 19. I wish to bring it to your notice the following for reshaping the function of the offices to meet out the challenges in the state of Tamil Nadu:
Even after the posts/covers are drastically reduced on account of stoppage of Train and all transport services, all the post offices are said to have been ordered to function in a routine manner even though with minimal staff like one man post office.
As the people are advised to stay indoors and maintain social distancing, public approaching the Post Offices for services are drastically reduced. When such is the condition throughout India, all the staffs are asked to come to the office in a routine manner. Thus the postal employees both doing outdoor and indoor duties are being subjected to be prone to the deadly virus and, they, in turn, facilitate the spread of the virus to their family members. The Postman Staff are also having the risk of community spreading of the virus.
It is also brought to my notice that the Postal staff who have come to work, have not been provided with masks, sanitizer, thermal scanning etc. The office area is also not being sanitized periodically.
It is pertinent to mention here that in the city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, the first death of the COVID-19 affected has occurred. It is stated that he is not among the foreign returned person nor had any connection with any person returned from foreign countries. The occurrence of death disapproved the general perception of the Corona virus being spread through foreign returned persons only. Hence, the situation warrants an extraordinary precaution.
In the light of the above, I, as Member of LokSabha of Madurai Constituency feel that the life and health of the Postal employees should be looked upon in a serious way as far as containment of COVID-19 is concerned. Against this background, the functioning of the Post Offices in the state of Tamil Nadu, especially in Madurai, requires a thorough review and modifications.
The Department of Posts has to ensure and provide adequate preventive apparatus like sanitizer, mask, etc. and ensure hygienic working atmosphere to comply with the standards set by the Health Ministry.
The functioning of the savings bank service, which is the prime requirement for the public at present, may be allowed at Head Offices level, with proper hygiene and social distancing.
The functioning of the Post office can be brought to a bare minimum. The Head Post Office and other major post offices may be allowed to function. All the staff members may be put on duty on roster basis to a minimum level and others may be asked to remain at Home in such a way to comply the Health Ministry guidelines. As the public transport is completely stopped and stringent measures are being implemented by the Law Enforcing authorities for movement of Private Vehicles the Department may provide Transport facility to come to the office and back to the Home.
I request a swift action at your end to ensure the interest of staff as well as public and a line in reply will be very much appreciated
I also wish to mention here that the staff members associations have represented expressing concern about the safety of the employees and remedy.
-- S. VENKATESAN,
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT(LOKSHABA) - MADURAI.