Retired Postal Officer Urges India Post to Introduce Government-Printed Envelopes in Multiple Sizes
Retired Postal Officer Urges Department to Introduce Government-Printed Envelopes of Various Sizes
Retired Postal Officer Vilas Ingale, former ADPS (A&V), Foreign Post Office, Mumbai, and former General Secretary of the All India Association of Inspectors and Assistant Superintendents of Posts, has submitted a representation to the Hon’ble Minister of Communications seeking the introduction of Government-printed envelopes in different sizes through Post Offices.
The proposal is aimed at improving customer convenience, providing postal stationery under one roof and generating additional revenue for the Department of Posts.
Existing Problem
According to the representation, the availability and sale of traditional postal stationery such as inland letter cards, aerogrammes, registered covers and postcards have declined considerably. At the same time, customers requiring envelopes for A4-size documents, certificates and other larger documents often find that suitable envelopes are not available at Post Offices.
The existing ₹5 envelope is considered too small for carrying multiple documents without folding. Customers are therefore required to approach private stationery shops to purchase larger envelopes.
Proposal for Different Sizes of Envelopes
The representation suggests that the Department should arrange for the printing of at least three to four different sizes of Government envelopes through India Security Press, Nashik.
These envelopes could cater to different requirements, including:
- A4-size documents without folding
- School and college certificates
- Mark sheets and educational documents
- Legal and other important documents
- Larger sets of papers requiring additional space
Making such envelopes available at Post Offices would enable customers to obtain the required stationery while availing postal services at the same location.
Earlier Initiatives
The representation also refers to several earlier initiatives of the Department, including the sale of registered envelopes, Post Shoppe, Franchise Outlets and Retail Post services, which included stationery and other products.
It argues that greater attention to postal stationery and customer-oriented products could provide opportunities for improving the Department's retail services.
Reference to Automated Mail Processing Centres
The representation also discusses the earlier use of Automated Mail Processing Centres (AMPCs) and the development of machinable mail. It states that the existing ₹5 envelope was designed with machinable mail requirements in mind and argues that the current requirements of customers call for a wider range of envelope sizes.
Request for Consideration
The retired Postal Officer has requested the Minister of Communications to direct the Secretary (Posts) and senior officers of the Department of Posts to examine the proposal.
He has suggested that the matter may be placed before an appropriate Postal Services Board meeting for detailed consideration and that a report may be called for before taking a final decision.
The proposal seeks to ensure that customers can obtain suitable Government-printed envelopes directly from Post Offices instead of depending on private stationery vendors. At the same time, the introduction of different envelope sizes could provide an additional avenue for revenue generation and improved customer service for the Department of Posts.