Divisional Union writes to SSPOs, Bhubaneswar Division for Civil and Electrical maintenance work of Rasulgarh S O, Bhubaneswar – 751 010 :

ALL INDIA POSTAL EMPLOYEES UNION GROUP – C

( Federated with National Federation of Postal Employees, New Delhi )

BHUBANESWAR DIVISIONAL BRANCH

BHUBANESWAR – 751 007

To

The Senior Superintendent of Post Offices

Bhubaneswar Division

Bhubaneswar – 751 009

No. UN-BN/AIPEU-Gr.-C/ 08 - 09 / 2011,                                         Dated at  Bhubaneswar the 23^rd  September, 2011

Sub: Civil and Electrical maintenance work of Rasulgarh S O, Bhubaneswar – 751 010

( Front view of Rasulgarh S O )

Sir,

Reiterating the miserable condition of  Rasulgarh Sub Post Office ( Class ‘A’) building and its unhygienic environmental  atmosphere, this is  once again brought to the notice of the SSPOs that though the administration was quite aware of the dilapidated condition of the erstwhile Bag Washing Plant  closed and left abandoned since long,  Rasulgarh S O was shifted forcefully due to notification issued by the previous house owner and non-availability of accommodation in the locality during March 2009 from the earlier rented building to the said BWP  by constructing just a partition wall for arranging space to make the post office functional without caring for the unhygienic environmental condition and even without  provision of  basic  amenities like drinking water facility, lavatory  etc.

Soon after the shifting of the post office to this Bag Washing Plant, the then SPM brought all the difficulties faced the staff members to the notice of the Divisional administration.  The sewerage line was completely choked. With the personal effort of the SPM and Staff, drinking water could be arranged from outside. The asbestos sheets of the roof were / are broken, the concrete floor was / is damaged, the doors and windows were / are in broken condition and eaten by white ants. The matter was also discussed with the SSPOs, Bhubaneswar in monthly union meetings apart from requesting the Circle Union for appraising the situation to the Circle Head for doing needful.

 ( Intentional garbage yard created by a private hotel owner in front of Rasulgarh S O )

As known, once the required works were estimated. But subsequent steps to undertake the maintenance works  are still in dark for last two years or so.

The front view of the post office gives an idea of an asbestos shed and not that of a prestigious central govt. establishment.  Dense weeds have grown on the asbestos sheets. The front boundary wall and the main iron gate are broken. There is a thatched hotel adjacent to the broken boundary wall of the post office. The hotel owner uses the space in between the front broken boundary wall and post office as his garbage yard. The heap of leftover / stale foods, used up polythene, water / wine bottles, rotten fruits /vegetables and their scales/scraps in front of the post office building create a very poor figure.

One can’t imagine the dirtiness of the entrance hall. The overhead concrete beam is in a damaged condition. The dangerous electrical fittings, the disfigured walls, broken windows and the adjacent dirty latrine will certainly confuse anybody to think if it is a departmental building requiring annual maintenance and other periodical works. One cannot certainly allow such an important  land and building situated inside an Industrial Estate  with market value of crores of rupees  to be destroyed only for want of  proper maintenance.  

 ( Broken front boundary wall and gate of Rasulgarh S O )

The inner view of the post office will certainly raise a question on the look and feel good concept of the department. There is no server room. The server is placed on the counter table. One will certainly frown to see the top of the postmaster’s table with a broken sheet and broken drawer. The postman sorting   tables with iron sheets are completely rusty and disfigured without repainting / repairing for years together. The conditions of the pigeon hole sorting case and almirahs are also similar in nature. The wall fan fitted in the public place is not working. Rain water entering inside frequently through the broken asbestos sheets has disfigured the walls. The damaged concrete floor will not allow anybody to walk  in bare foot. Above all, it gives a very poor show in the eyes of the members of public.

The establishment consists of 14 staff members including the SPM. But there is no drinking water facility in the post office. As known to the union, the SPM has arranged drinking water for the staff members somewhere from the Industrial Estate engaging an outsider with payment of Rs.20/- per day. The staff of Rasulgarh S O are still begging water in the capital city of Bhubaneswar. How disgusting really, Sir! And the latrine ? Oh ! No. One just can’t look at it.

 Broken Table currently used by the Postmaster )

( Broken sorting Table )

 ( Broken sorting Table )

 (Broken sorting Table )

 ( Damaged & unserviceable latrine )

The backside of the post office is full with weeds providing heavenly shelter to snakes and mosquitoes etc. The poor SPM has no financial power even to clean the unnecessary weeds/hedges/bushes.

Since we are unaware of the visiting remarks and inspection reports of the authorities visiting   the office from time to time, we are submitting some photographs  of the post office depicting the above conditions with an expectation that the Divisional administration will take immediate action for renovation of the building with complete civil and electrical  maintenance works at the earliest making the post office and its environment both employee and public friendly  to satisfy the concept of ‘look and feel good’ now in talk of the department .

A reply on the nature of action taken is solicited.

With regards.

Yours faithfully,

Attached : As above ( Photographs to be downloaded)

( B Samal )

Divisional Secretary

Copy to all Circle Secretaries of NFPE unions for information and necessary action .