From medicines to cash payments, postmen deliver it all to ease lockdown anxiety

Thanjavur: Vedavalli (85) is a cancer patient. She needed an essential drug during the severest coronavirus lockdown so far. India Post came to her rescue. Procuring the drug from Bengaluru, postal staff reached the drug to her at Ombathuveli Agraharam in Thiriukattuppalli, 20 km from Thanjavur in two days, according to K. Thangamani, senior post master at the Thanjavur head post office.

Kudandaisamy, a diabetic patient of Thiruchanampoondi, is another beneficiary of the medical services of India post. "Not only these people, we reached drugs to 262 persons during this lockdown period in Thanjavur postal division," Thangamani said.

Yet another service rendered by the postal department during the lockdown period was reaching money to people. According to C. Subramanian, senior manager of India Post payments bank and Kulandai Raj, deputy post master, Thanjavur head post office, people have to produce Aadhaar card and mobile phone number. They can get cash from their accounts in any bank at the postal counter. A large number of people utilised this facility during lockdown. "We disbursed Rs 1,5 crore till date from March 24, when lockdown was declared by the government," said Subramanian.

Nearly 8,000 Mahatma Gandhi national rural employment guarantee scheme (Mgnrega) are getting their wages through the India Post payment bank. "We have disbursed Rs 1.15 crore as wages for April and May to these beneficiaries" Subramanian added.

Workers from the unorganised sectors were also paid financial assistance under government schemes by the bank. Thanjavur postal division with 900 employees has been continuously working irrespective of lockdown. "While we serve the people, we have also taken all corona prevention measures. Our employees were asked to wear masks, keep social distancing, kept water and soap for hand washing, not only for employees but also for people who come to the post office, use sanitisers etc.

"We also reached gloves, face masks, testing kits, sanitisers to people and institutions through our parcel service. With flight services now open, we have started sending parcels to 15 countries mainly medicines. We use our own vehicles and sometimes hire vehicles to reach our service to people," said Thangamani. Postal committee members of Thanjavur have appreciated the services of the postal department during this time of crisis.