Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Sept 05: The National Population Register (NPR) Card distribution system of Postal Department has become a constant source of discomfort for the people of these Islands. Everyday one can see thousands of people fighting and struggling hard to get their NPR card from the Post Office. Neither there is anyone to control the crowd nor to guide them.
When Andaman Sheekha today went to meet the Director of Postal Department and to ask him about such uncontrolled situation at all the post offices, especially at Head Post Office, it was learnt that the Director was not present at Port Blair. The officers below him told Andaman Sheekha that they have been directed not to talk to media.
However, Andaman Sheekha convinced one senior staff to comment on this issue so that public comes to know about the actual reason behind such an unorganized system of NPR card distribution.
According to him the reason behind all these problems is that the census department did not provide the address of the card holders in the NPR card and hence even if Postal Department wants it is impossible for the Postal Department to deliver the cards to public.
“In the NPR cards the address is mentioned as either South Andaman or Port Blair and hence it is impossible for us to deliver the cards to public. Therefore the only way to deliver the card is to ask public to come and collect. We have placed six to seven staffs for this task and police personnel are also present to control public,” he said.
However, when Andaman Sheekha today visited Head Post Office, neither these six staffs were seen nor the police guards. Public could be seen struggling hard to get their number from a list and then to collect their card from the Post Office.
“The Lt. Governor must once visit Post Office at 4.00 pm while going for cycling to see how general public are made to suffer by the Postal Department,” said a General Public.
As the last date for collecting NPR card is 7, September the crowd is swelling everyday. Hence public demand that the last date for the NPR card collection must be extended atleast upto 30 September to provide some relief to the public.
