SHILLONG: Even as the customers of GPO (General Post Office), Shillong faced hardships at its counters located on the ground floor due to the failure of internet link, two senior officials from the organization have come out with different versions of the issue.
Customers have complained about internet link failure on a regular basis at the ground floor counters where they have to go of late to open savings account following an instruction besides updating passbooks and avail other postal services.
Numerous such customers told this reporter that this is an ongoing affair at the GPO but there is no “serious effort to curb this trend”.
Many complained that they have had to wait for long hours due to internet failure whereas counter clerks do not give them any “extra time” for the “lost hours” at the end of the timings.
As a result they have to return empty handed without any job done.
Some customers also observed that there are no timings mentioned at the counters. Customers even said that they are told of “arbitrary counter timings” by the clerks.
Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent of Posts, Dr Alice K Vizo, said that she has not received any complaints regarding link failure as she herself is utilizing postal services using the same mode of operation.
She even pointed to a counter “May I help you” at the ground floor where customers can drop in their suggestions.
While informing that they are availing internet service from BSNL and Sify, she said, “There may be some occasional failure which happens even in banks.”
She has also informed that the GPO is presently undergoing CBS (Centralized Banking System), which will allow customers to utilize the services similar to core banking system as available in banks.
On the other hand, the Senior Postmaster at the GPO informed that they are getting their internet supply from only “Sify” which is yet to train the GPO manpower fully.
She even rued the fact that earlier when the GPO was running on BSNL supply, there was no such problem but now they were facing numerous problems.
BSNL has been replaced by Sify by the higher authorities sitting in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, customers complained that it took them up to a week to get a savings account open in the GPO.
The customers were ordered through a circular to open savings account at the GPO to get their interests credited directly into the account. This savings account also comes with an ATM.