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Kolkata, Apr 17 () India Post has changed itspriorities in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.Boasting the largest postal network in the world withmore than 1.56 lakh post offices, of which1.41 lakh are inrural areas, the robust India Post has become a lifesaver,working round theclock, delivering COVID-19 testing kits,ventilators, masks and medicines to far-flungplaces.The red mail vans, which are used for deliveringparcels within the city limits, have now become the mode oftransport to faraway locations during the nationwide lockdown,with no trains and flights in operation.Last weekend, a COVID-19 kit consignment packed in dryice arrived from Delhi for delivery to hospitals in Ranchi."The next day was Sunday and we could not afford tohave waited till Monday. Our challenge was to rush, so we madearrangements with postal circle of Jharkhand and it wasdelivered to the hospitals by midnight," Chief Post MasterGeneral of West Bengal Circle, Gautam Bhattacharya, told ."The other day, 650 kg of medicines and PPEs came fromthe national capital to the Kolkata sorting hub by a cargoflight. There were 25 cartons and we ensured delivery bymidnight," he said.There are more than 50 red mail vans in operation fromthe Kolkata hub that transports PPEs to districts and otherareas of the West Bengal circle.Mobilising the staff, who mostly come from suburbs andsubsequent coordination, means that Bhattacharya, whose circlealso includes Sikkim and Andaman &amp; Nicobar islands, is havingsleepless nights."This is an all new challenge for us. A lot ofmovements are taking place of COVID-19 related items. The bigchallenge is about making the logistic arrangements."It also means extra responsibility for those engagedin the delivery process, such as the drivers, who venture outto faraway places, and that too, at odd hours."We are operating with reduced staff of about 60 percent as the small post offices are closed. We bring theparcels to head post offices... We have now become a transportsystem with no railway and airway service. This is anemergency situation and we are up for it," Bhattacharya added.He cited the example of a post master from Debagramsub-post office in Nadia district, Sanjit Halder, who cycledmore than 150 km, all the way from Garia here, to reach hiswork place.It was any other weekend and Halder had retruned tohis home in Garia, knowing little about the imminent JanataCurfew and the nationwide lockdown that followed in thesubsequent weeks.He kept his work commitment and took his daughter's'Kanya Shree' (state government-gifted) bicycle and startedoff at the break of dawn.Halder was in office by 9 pm, ready to serve more than300 pensioners and monthly-income-scheme holders."Most of our clients are illiterate and poor, and wework like a close-knit family. I cannot afford to sit at home.I had contacted a taxi, but the driver demanded a hefty Rs6,000. So, I decided to take my daughter's bicycle," Haldersaid in an interaction with .The 48-year-old took small breaks thrice on the way tokeep himself hydrated amid scorching heat."First, I had some biscuits, then I stopped forsugarcane juice and finally at a sweet stall, I had curd."By the time he reached Krishnanagar, it was pitch-darkand there was a jungle ahead. Luckily, the local police cameto his rescue and took him in their van."For me, it was like a small service to Mother India,"said Halder, who has been at the Debagram sub-post office eversince the lockdown came into force.The Kolkata circle of India Post has also made door-to-door distribution of pensions to the super senior citizensduring the ongoing lockdown.There are about 60,000 pensioners in the circle ofwhich nearly 30 per cent are in their 80s."We prepared a list and the respective branch postoffices contacted them to facilitate the pensions,"Bhattacharya said.India Post is also open to regular mail service,although the priority now has changed, he said."We were never closed and most of the post offices areopen. One can come and book general items. But, we receivethem with a disclaimer -- 'the service could be delayed', aswe are dependent on cargo flights now. The traffic is less formail and e-commerce articles, and people are not turning upinlarge numbers," Bhattacharya said. TAPRBT RBT

From delivering mails to COVID-19 kits, India Post turns lifesaver in testing times

By Bijay Kumar Singh New Delhi, Apr 5 () The Indian macroeconomic situation is bleak and all set to get worse if local or national lockdowns continue for some more time, renowned economist Jean Dreze said on Sunday. Dreze further said that due to the country-wide lockdown, social unrest in many parts of India has already started. The country is under a 21-day lockdown as part of larger efforts to curb spreading of coronavirus infections. "The situation is bleak and all set to get worse, if local or national lockdowns of varying intensity continue for some time, as is likely to happen. "Even otherwise, the world-wide recession is likely to have adverse affects on the Indian economy," the Belgian-born Indian economist told in an interview. Talking about the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the Indian economy and job creation, Dreze noted that some sectors are badly affected, but segments like medical care may even grow during the crisis. "Most sectors would be unable to thrive if others are not in good shape. "... It's like, if a bicycle has a puncture, you cannot expect it to move forward on one wheel. In short, if the crisis lasts, it will spread to most parts of the economy, including the banking system," he emphasised. Observing that as soon as the lockdown is relaxed, migrant workers who are marooned in different parts will try to return home, Dreze pointed out that they will probably hesitate to migrate again for a while. "But there is hardly any work for them at home, except for some farming if they have land," he said, adding that because of reduced migration, sectors that rely heavily on migrant labour may face a shortage of manpower. Pointing out that already there are reports of shortage of labour for wheat harvest in parts of north India, Dreze said, "This is the paradox of this situation, that shortages and surpluses may coexist, because the circulation channels have been severely disrupted." Asked whether it is the right time to go for Universal Basic Income (UBI), he said this is not the time to reinvent the wheel. "That is why it is best to build on existing schemes for now, including the public distribution system and social security pensions. "... In other contexts, UBI may be feasible and appropriate, but in India today, it is a distraction," Dreze, a former member of the previous UPA government's National Advisory Council argued. Several international credit rating agencies have cut growth estimates for India in recent days on concerns about the fallout of the Covid-19 outbreak. According to Fitch Ratings, India may post in 2020-21 a GDP growth of 2 per cent, the slowest since the economy was liberalised 30 years back. Asian Development Bank (ADB) sees India's economic growth slipping to 4 per cent in the current fiscal (April 2020 to March 2021), while S&amp;P Global Ratings last week further slashed GDP growth forecast for the country to 3.5 per cent from the previous downgrade of 5.2 per cent. Moody's Investors Service has also slashed its estimate of India's GDP growth during 2020 calendar year to 2.5 per cent, from an earlier estimate of 5.3 per cent, saying the coronavirus pandemic will cause unprecedented shock to the global economy. BKS ABM

Indian macroeconomic situation bleak, set to worsen if lockdowns continue: Jean Dreze

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From delivering mails to COVID-19 kits, India Post turns lifesaver in testing times

PTI

Indian macroeconomic situation bleak, set to worsen if lockdowns continue: Jean Dreze

PTI

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