An outdated facility

Sir, - Two value payable parcels (VPP) for Rs. 75 and Rs. 158 reportedly from two book firms in Delhi were received attractively packed and correctly addressed to two friends of mine. As the heads of families were away, other members received them presuming they would have been ordered. On opening they contained one old book each worth not more than Rs. 10.

Several spurious concerns similarly make tall claims in advertisements and if the gullible merely make enquiries worthless gadgets or appliances are sent by VPP. Even if one percentage of them is accepted, they make a neat profit unmindful of the loss on postage on the refused ones. The VPP system was introduced by the postal department several decades ago to help businessmen when advertisement and communication facilities had not developed. At best it is outdated in the present conditions. There is no reason why the postal department (working at a loss) should act as an agent of businessmen (even in genuine cases) to collect their dues for a meagre fee. The department loses heavily on returning thousands of such refused articles to the senders free of charge (for the retransmission).

It is time this outdated facility is withdrawn by the department for the good of all concerned.

A. Shanmugasundaram,

Bangalore

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