There is widespread resentment against a recent move of the Union Government to withdraw the Senior Post Master from the Brahmapur Head Post Office, which is a gazetted post, and replace it with a junior level officer.
The postal associations have already appealed to the Director General of Posts, New Delhi and Chief Post Master General, Odisha to refrain from such step-motherly action towards the neglected region and intimated about the undue hardship to be suffered by the denizens. Various trade unions consider the Union Government’s move a well planned conspiracy to degrade the post and to destroy the quality of the postal service in the region. It may be noted here that, the post of Senior Postmaster of Brahmapur was upgraded to a gazetted post in 1983 because of the struggle of the people of the region.
According to an estimate, the Brahmapur Head Post Office is currently one of the biggest business-hub for postal services in the entire Odisha and has achieved many records of glory for rendering good service to the nation.
Presently, the Senior Post Master of Brahmapur is shouldering the responsibility for smooth functioning of 48 Sub-Post offices including the rural branch post offices under its administrative ambience with more than 70 staffers. The Union Government’s plan to downgrade the office will not only affect the financial capacity of the Postal Department but also would also substantially reduce the quality and standard of services being rendered. The employees will be worst affected due to replacement of the post with a junior grade. At this crucial juncture, there a growing demand among the local public not to downgrade the post keeping the larger interest of the postal services in the region.
On March 2, a delegation of the Brahmapur Joint Council of Action (JCA) members met Brahmapur MP Chandra Sekhar Sahu and discussed about the impact of the Union Government’s move. MP Sahu reportedly assured the delegation to take up the matter with the Union Ministry soon.