The Kharghar post office, which was opened in 2005 to serve a population of 26,000, is now serving more than two lakh people but with the same strength of employees who have to work amidst the crumbling infrastructure of the post office. Eighteen postal employees are working in the 526 square feet space.
Activists have raised the issue with senior post officials and even the minister of state for IT and Communications Milind Deora, who later tried to improve the situation, but nothing has changed so far. The staff of the post office continue to work in the dilapidated and cramped building and have to walk over mail bags due to lack of space. Five women employees who share the space with 13 other male employees also complain of the problems they have to face due to lack of physical space. “Working here has become like hell, we have to think 10 times before making a single physical movement. But we have to do it because it’s a question of our job.” said a woman employee.
People who use this post office, including senior citizens, pensioners and women, have to stand outside in harsh sunshine and rains. Many cases of theft have also occurred with people losing their valuables. “I have been following this issue with the top authorities, but when they have scant regard for the minister, then who am I (sic),” said Ravi Srivastava, activist and senior office bearer of the Aam Aadmi Party, who has been rigorously following up this issue for the past two years.
He has demanded that the post office be shifted to bigger premises or his team would be forced to agitate.