IT firms slam door on postmen, reject mail

CHENNAI: Hundreds of rakhis, letters and articles sent by speed post to IT companies in Sholinganallur, Perungudi and Thoraipakkam were returned to India Post offices after the companies refused to accept them, saying they do not have the men or machinery to distribute the items to staff.

 

Confirming the incident, postmaster general Merwin Alexander criticised IT firms for what he described as a "gross violation of human rights". "How could companies stop their employees from receiving letters and rakhis?" he asked.

 

"Some postmen reported that when they go to deliver post at IT companies, they are treated with scant respect and are asked to leave," he said, adding that his department will hold talks with the IT majors next week. "They should cooperate with us, if not as their bounden duty to their employees, then at least as part of what they call 'corporate social responsibility'."

India Post officials said at least 4,500 letters, some with credit and debit cards, greetings and more than 1,500 rakhis are lying in the Sholinganallur, Perungudi and Thoraipakkam post offices.

"I wear the India Post uniform and have an identity card but security guards at the companies, most of whom speak only Hindi, refuse to allow me inside. The guards say they are acting on the instructions of company officials," said a postman from Perungudi.

Paresh Khatri, a software professional, said his sister sent a rakhi to him by speed post on Saturday but it had not reached him even after five days. "An postal employee called me on Thursday and asked me to collect the parcel from the post office because my office does not allow postmen to deliver mails or packages," he said.

An official with a leading IT company said his firm does not intentionally stop mail from being delivered to employees. "If at all some mails or gifts have not been delivered, it was probably due to a wrong address," he said.

Source : Times of India