Dear Comrades,
HYDERABAD: A century-old post office (PO) in Bolarum, Secunderabad has the
privilege of delivering dak (letters) to none other than the first citizen of
the country during the president's annual southern sojourn here. Though modern
communication systems have reduced the load on the post office over the years,
it continues to deliver mail/parcels at the doorstep of the president at
Rashtrapathi Nilayam, the only official residence of the first citizen in south
India, every day. Alas, the post office that has been serving presidents for
over six decades right from Rajendra
Prasad to the incumbent Pratibha Patil, lies in a state of neglect.
As per official records, the post office, located adjacent to the
high-security RP Nilayam, had started offering telegraph services in 1860 and
later postal services began from 1950 onwards. Since then, the PO has been
rendering services to the citizens, including the President.
"The tradition of delivering letters and parcels started from the period of
Rajendra Prasad, the first president of independent India. The Rashtrapathi
Bhavan, Delhi, authorities used to send dak in 10 to 15 mail bags by flight or
train. Soon after receiving them, we used to sort out the dak and deliver it at
the president's doorstep," T Guruvaiah, a retired postmaster who served for over
three decades at the post office, told TOI.
"Earlier, presidents used to stay at R P Nilayam for nearly 40 days and
during that period we used to deliver nearly 700 letters and over 50 parcels.
From the era of Shankar Dayal Sharma, who stayed at the RP Nilayam in the late
90s, the numbers started dwindling," he added.
G Sheshagiri Rao, a senior postman, said, "I used to sort out letters and
parcels during President Shankar Dayal Sharma's visit here. We felt privileged
as we got an opportunity to serve the president. It was an honour for us as
Shankar Dayal Sharma posed for a photograph with us during his stay at the RP
Nilayam."
"We do not know what the parcels contain because the mail bags used to be
affixed with a seal
by the Rashtrapathi Bhavan authorities," he replied.
Rapid changes in the communication field could be the reason for decrease in
letters and parcels, a senior postal department employee analysed. "It is a fact
that dak decreased. Now, the Rashtrapathi Bhavan authorities are sending
confidential matters through e-mails," Bolarum postmaster A Durga Rao
claimed.
Postman G Mahesh, 34, who has been delivering letters and parcels to
President Pratibha
Patil during her stay at the RP Nilayam in the past few years, said, "I used
to deliver close to 100 letters and parcels during the President's stay in the
recent past. On Monday, I delivered 10 letters and parcels to the VVIP."
Incidentally, presidents V V Giri and Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy visited the post
office during their strolls on the 90-acre RP Nilayam premises. Though it has
historical value, the post office lies in a state of neglect.
When contacted, assistant director (Buildings), Postal Department, R Srihari,
said, "We have sent proposals to renovate the post office at an estimated cost
of Rs 10 lakhs to higher-ups in Delhi for final approval. Till date, we have not
received any communication. Once, they give the green signal, renovation works
will be taken up."
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com