Dear Comrades,
NEW POSTAL POLICY 2012
ROADMAP TO PRIVATISATION
(POSTAL CRUSADER – AUGUST - 2012 ISSUE - EDITORIAL)
Government of India has declared the New Postal Policy 2012.
Shri Kapil Sibal, Minister Communications & IT has made a press statement
also. Finally Govt. has decided to end the monopoly of Postal Department in
collecting, processing, conveyance and delivery of letter mail articles and allow
private couriers also to function legally.
As per the Govt’s. version – “the idea is to develop Indian
Postal Sector as a full-fledged market, bring in more service providers to
enhance employment (?) and contribution to nations GDP (?).” It further states
that – “At present Department of Posts, which has around five lakhs employees,
is the sole body responsible for policy making, regulation and providing postal
service. The over 100 year old Indian Post office Act, which governs the Postal
sector, bars any individual or entity from delivering letter for commercial
purpose.” Communication Minister has asked Department of Posts to
create a framework to support small and medium Postal Operators (i.e. couriers)
and new models to encourage entrepreneurship in the sector.
One of the guiding principles of the National Postal Policy
(NPP) is promotion of partnership between private and public postal sectors.
(i.e between couriers and Department of Posts) and to promote cooperation,
inter action, resource sharing and fair competition among stake holders.
The NPP says that – “Competition leads to consumer satisfaction
through lower prices, more choice and better quality of service. Efforts are
therefore required to promote competition in the provision of Postal Services
so as to maximize benefits to customers, particularly in rural and inaccessible
areas Therefore it is necessary to develop a governance and legislative system
that promotes fair competition in the Postal market and offers customer ample
choice”.
In order to implement the above stated privatization policy, the
Government is planning to separate the functions of policy making, regulation
and operations of the over 150 years old Department of Posts. An independent
body named Postal Development Board (PDB) will be responsible for the overall
development and governance of the Postal Sector (including courier services).
The PDB will also draw a roadmap for unbundling (ending monopoly and allowing
private participation) of Postal departments functions.
The PDB will be set up under Secretary (Posts) and will include
secretaries of Department of Economic Affairs, Department of Electronics and
Imformation Technology, Department of Commerce and two members from Postal
Services Board. A Postal Advisory Board (PAB) will be constituted which will
have representation from Government, Industry payers, academics and other stake
holders, to provide inputs to PDB on policy matters.
If the NPP is implemented in its totality, then the Postal
Department will definitely meet the fate of Telecom. The existence of
Department and job security of the five lakhs Postal employees will be in
danger. NFPE calls upon the Postal and RMS employees including GDS to be ready
for serious trade union action if the Government take any unilateral decision
to privatise postal sector.
