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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Week on, upgraded software in post offices faces multiple glitches
A week after its rollout, the much-hyped IT 2.0 digital upgrade in post offices across Ludhiana has turned into a flop show, leaving visitors frustrated and routine services in disarray. Postal staff say they are struggling with parcel bookings, money order payments, and invoice-related work. (Manish/HT) Tall promises, technical chaos Launched on August 5 with promises of stronger digital security, faster service, and better user experience, the new system has instead been plagued by technical glitches, repeated server crashes, and slower processing. Postal staff say they are struggling with parcel bookings, letter deliveries, dispatches, money order payments, and invoice-related work. 'The server goes down repeatedly during rush hours, sometimes for hours at a stretch, making it impossible to manage the crowd. When transactions freeze mid way, we have to cancel and restart the process, often leading to heated arguments from customers who have already been waiting for long. It not only delays our work but also creates a stressful and chaotic atmosphere at the counters', said a head office employee on condition of anonymity. Meanwhile, residents also expressed frustration over the constant breakdowns. 'We came to the post office for urgent and affordable deliveries, but now it takes longer than before. Even small parcel bookings stretch into a 20 to 30-minute wait, and sometimes we have to come back the next day,' said Shubham Sharma, a visitor to the head post office. Increased manual work Highlighting the grim picture, postal staff said the upgrade came with hefty assurances of digital advancement, but in reality, it has increased our manual work. The new system has more mandatory columns than before, making it more complex to operate. With the server frequently collapsing, we are forced to record every dispatch, every transaction in Excel sheets. Once the system is restored, this data has to be entered again, doubling the workload, they added. Union writes to the department of posts In a letter written to the department of posts, the local unit of All India Gramin Dak Sevaks Union (AIGDSU) highlighted that the new Internal App 2.0 is grappled with operational problems. It often fails to properly scan mail bags and the system often does not show them as received or sent. This means letters and parcels get stuck instead of moving to their destination. Money order rules in the app are unclear, and sometimes the balance shown in the app does not match with the branch account, leading to discrepancies. In rural belts of Ludhiana, the app barely works, often showing 'server busy' or freezing. Some transactions, like AEPS (Aadhaar-based payments), are not recorded properly, leading to confusion. The union further urged the department for quick fix and concrete solutions. Official response When contacted, senior postmaster Balbir Singh said the issues stem mainly from backend with problems in bookings and dispatches caused by the added features in the new system. 'Our accounts and transactions are the most affected, while other services are functioning normally,' he stated.
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Postal staff protest over job security, pension demands
Rural postal workers deployed as Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) on Tuesday staged a protest outside the Head Post Office near Bharat Nagar Chowk in Ludhiana. The protest organised under the banner of the All India Gramin Dak Sevaks Union (AIGDSU) was part of a nationwide agitation and voiced longstanding demands for better job security, fair pay, and an end to alleged exploitative practices. Ajaib Singh, general secretary of AIGDSU (Ludhiana), said, 'We have protested today as part of the nationwide strike called by the All India Gramin Dak Sevaks to push for our genuine demands. Earlier, on April 22, we held symbolic demonstrations by wearing black badges at our workplaces.' Singh said that on May 1, a postcard campaign will be launched, addressed to the secretary of the department of posts, and a major protest is planned at the Punjab circle headquarters in Chandigarh on May 6. One of the key demands includes the extension of a monthly pension under the National Pension System (NPS), ensuring financial security post-retirement. They are also seeking an eight-hour work schedule, higher pay, and full-service benefits, on par with regular postal employees. Additionally, they are urging the government to include GDS concerns in the terms of reference of the upcoming 8th Central Pay Commission. The union strongly opposed the implementation of proposed Independent Delivery Centres (IDCs), a new delivery model aimed at outsourcing and centralising parcel delivery through dedicated hubs. GDS workers fear that this move will erode their roles and push them further into insecurity. They demand that if IDCs are introduced, GDS staff must be absorbed into the new structure with full-service protections and benefits. Another prominent demand is the immediate implementation of the Kamlesh Chandra Committee's positive recommendations. These include fair pay fixation effective from January 2016, time-bound promotions after 12, 24, and 36 years of service, removal of the ₹1.5 lakh cap on gratuity, leave encashment of up to 180 days, and medical benefits under schemes like Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) or Employee State Insurance (ESI). The protestors also called for an end to incentive-based workload models. They want all the work done by GDS, including handling postal savings, insurance, and MGNREGA accounts, to be counted in official workload assessments. Protestors criticised the current practice of linking salaries to workload and stressed the need for equal pay for equal work, especially for new recruits working five-hour shifts. Raising concerns over workplace harassment, the union demanded the withdrawal of disciplinary action against members who participated in the December 12, 2023, strike. They also pressed for better infrastructure support, including laptops, printers, and internet connectivity for branch post offices. Additionally, they voiced opposition to harsh and disproportionate punishments that often disregard the economic hardships and service conditions of GDS workers.
Hindustan Times
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Postal staff to protest tomorrow, demand better working conditions
Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) deployed in the rural areas of Ludhiana have announced to stage a demonstration at divisional post offices across Ludhiana on Tuesday. The protest will be organised under the banner of the All India Gramin Dak Sevaks Union (AIGDSU). The demands by the union included the extension of monthly pensions under the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), the implementation of eight-hour work shifts with appropriate pay scales, higher Time-Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA) and full-service benefits. TRCA compensates GDS employees based on the time spent on their duties and the level of responsibility. The union is also demanding that GDS workers be included in UPS, with monthly pensions comparable to those of regular employees, and the scrapping of the Independent Delivery Centres (IDCs). Nirbhai Singh, head of the union, Ludhiana, stated,' The protest will be organised from 3 pm to 5 pm, after our duty hours, to ensure that the common public is not inconvenienced. We are mindful of our responsibilities and have planned the timing carefully to avoid any disruption to the public services. Our aim is to raise the voice for justice without causing any harm to the people we serve.' Ajaib Singh, general secretary of the union, Ludhiana explained, 'On April 22, GDS workers across rural Ludhiana had worn black badges as a symbolic protest, marking the beginning of a series of agitation planned. This was not just a display of unity, but a powerful statement about the struggles and injustices faced by rural postal workers.' Kuldeep Singh, another member of the union, said, 'We have been working tirelessly, often under harsh conditions, yet we are denied the basic benefits and rights that we deserve. Our demand for eight-hour shifts and pension rights is a basic request for fairness.' In a circular issued on April 15, 2025, the AIGDSU outlined a phased programme designed to escalate pressure on the department of posts. This includes a demonstration on April 29 at divisional post offices across the city. The union is also calling for the implementation of key recommendations from the Kamale Chandra Committee, rational fixation of TRCA, financial upgradation, and enhanced medical facilities for GDS families. Furthermore, GDS workers are protesting discrimination, workload imbalances, and disproportionate punishments, particularly after the December 2023 strike. These protests are part of a larger, nationwide movement aimed at securing fair treatment, better working conditions, and equal recognition for GDS workers across India, workers noted.
