Date:26/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/26/stories/2007022612970300.htm

Other States - Orissa

Postal employees oppose privatisation move

Staff Reporter

Biennial conference of National Federation Postal Employees begin

Photo: Lingaraj Panda

RALLYING POINT: Postal employees taking out a rally to mark the beginning of the biennial conference and circle working committee meeting in Berhampur on Sunday.

BERHAMPUR: Postal employees at the three-day biennial divisional conference of the National Federation of Postal Employees that was inaugurated in the city on Sunday vowed to oppose any attempt to privatise postal department.

Burning issues

They took out a rally in the city that concluded at their conference site shouting slogans against attempts to privatise postal sector in the name of reforms. This conference was inaugurated by vice president of CITU Janardan Pati.

The problem of Gramin Dak Sevaks was also major point of discussion at the open session of the conference. Employees demanded provision of proper status and pension to the GDS, who are lifeline of the postal network. The employees are also opposed to any attempt by the Government to reduce the staff strength and want all vacant posts to be filled as early as possible. It was a common opinion that the postal department should have monopoly over collection, conveyance and delivery of letters and mail as recommended by the parliamentary standing committee.

National leader of postal employees K.Raghavendra, who attended this conference, said political parties like Congress and BJP were not interested in solving the problems of postal employees. According to him postal employees were planning to hold national strike if the Government continues on the path of privatisation of postal sector.