LUCKNOW: Gone are the days when dressed in khaki uniform, SDSAsthana enthused children with his bag full of letters. Braving winter chill or rain or the scorching summers on his bicycle, for years Asthana, now 61 years old, trudged door-to-door and street-to-street to deliver the cream-coloured postcards, the white or pale envelopes and the folded blue inland letters filled with news good or bad, happy or sad.
"There were people who stood outside their houses, waiting anxiously for me. They would either wail or glow reading the content of letter. Many even shared their messages with me,'' recalla Asthana, humming 'Daakiya daak laaya'. Blaming the advent of courier service and the instant modes of communication like messaging, e-mails and social networking sites, Asthana said, letters have lost their relevance.
But things have changed and so has the attitude of people. Delivering letters for the past 31 years, Hari Shankar Trivedi said, "Now, when I ring the bell, most people don't open the door. Others ask me to deliver the mail in the evening and not to disturb their afternoon nap.'' Trivedi lamented, "Earlier, when I delivered mails, people offered tea and snacks. Some even gave a tip on Holi and Diwali. This tradition has almost faded now.'' In fact, many people misunderstand the postman as security guards or the courier delivery boy. "Children always take us for the courier guy. They have no knowledge of who a postman is,'' saidRam Prakash, a postman.
Over the years, there has been a steep fall in the flow of postcards and inland letter cards (ILCs). According to the figures given by the Lucknow Postal department, the city, 20 years back there was an inflow and outflow of approximately 1.5 lakh postcards and ILCs per day. The figure today stands at less than 40,000 (approx) per day. Of this, merely 10% are personal letters while others are used for government official, professional or commercial purposes.
Postal department officials shared information that professional letters are usually bank drafts, legal documents, application forms for jobs and colleges, and recruitment letters. Besides, there are others addressed to politicians, government and private officials to air grievances or to send good wishes.
Not only in cities, the trend of writing postcards is waning even among the rural population. "Cell phones are no more a luxury but a necessity. Now, people wait for a call from their loved ones instead of letters," said a postal department official.
The declining figures are worrisome even for top officials. Lucknow chief post master, Rahul told TOI, "A few decades back, postal department was the sole authority to transmit letters. It was the only link to connect the people in terms of communication. Gradually, e-mails, SMSes have come in, sidelining us almost entirely.''
FADING AWAY
1. Postal services in Lucknow were started in early 70s
2. Postal departments operated in 4 shifts in the initial years-8.30 am, 12 noon, 2.30 pm and 4 pm.
3. At present, mails are delivered once a day at 11 am
4. Local letters reached the same day, maximum of week to other states
5. Speed Post and Express Parcel Post were introduced for quick delivery of mails
6. For delivery of heavy items, Logistics Post was introduced
7. Cost of inland letters is Rs 2.50, postcards are priced at 50 paisa each
8. Postcards known as Meghdoot carrying advertisements cost only 25 paisa each
Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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