Indian Postal dept calls for level playing field

The Department of Posts has sought a level playing field in relation to courier companies.

This is even as the Government of India proposes to amend the Indian Post Office Act, 1898. The Government proposes to introduce a licensing system for courier companies, enabling them to carry letters besides documents and parcels. But the Department has opposed the proposal saying that it would be impossible to compete with private courier companies if the rules are not the same for it and the courier companies.Private companies pay a commission of Rs1,500-2,000 to each delivery boy, while the average salary of the Department’s delivery personnel is about Rs6,000.

Besides, the establishment and other costs of the post-offices are huge. The Department feels that introducing some sort of tariff regulation or allocating a part of the domestic mail nationwide for the Department can ensure a level playing field.

It has 1,60,000 post- offices in India, while courier companies confine their operations to cities and towns.