Bhubaneswar: A postmaster working in a remote village in Odisha’s Gajapati district has won many hearts for providing postal services to the local people, braving adverse conditions.
Sudarshan Mishra, the postmaster of Chhelagada village under Ram Udayagiri block, climbs a local hill to provide online services to people living on hilltops. As these villages lack mobile network, it is almost impossible to execute many online works at the post office. The situation is forcing 63-year-old Mishra to climb the nearby hill which is located 4 km away from the post office, to access the mobile network and provide various postal services to the local people.
Popularly known as ‘Chhelagada Postmaster Babu,’ Mishra has been providing postal service to the people of the area for over 43 years now.
“Since the mobile network is not available at Chhelagada, it is not possible to execute online work at the post office. As a result, I have to climb the hill to access the network to do various works of the post office. I am doing the mail operation and distributing letters and books from here. I have to cover 4 km every day to deliver the service,” says Mishra.
The postmaster’s dedication to provide service has endeared him to the local people.
“Chhelagada Postmaster Babu even braves inclement weather to climb the hill on a daily basis to access the network for providing postal service to us. People of the locality are indebted to him,” said Narayan Bhuyana, a local resident.
Mishra had started his job in 1980 with a meagre monthly salary of Rs 101.50. Though 43 years have passed since then, Mishra is providing postal service to the people with the same kind of zeal and sincerity. He climbs the hill twice a day to access the network to execute online work. People from nearby villages wait for Mishra atop the hill every morning for their work.
“Though he is 63 years of age, he is working tirelessly and sincerely to provide postal service to the people of this locality. At this age, it is quite arduous to climb atop the hill on a daily basis. However, he doesn’t mind facing the challenge for the service of people,” said Jagannath Ranjit, former Samiti member.
