Thiruvananthapuram: The financial strain on the government is now affecting even the issue of postage stamps at the Secretariat. Approximately 100,000 petitions and complaints from the general public remain unanswered, as the Postal Department within the Department of Public Administration does not have sufficient funds for stamping.
The crisis has impacted the timely processing of complaints received during the Nava Kerala Sadas, where approximately 6.25 lakh complaints await responses. The Postal Department is responsible for stamping and processing between 10,000 and 20,000 stampings daily, each incurring a cost ranging from Rs 12,500 to Rs 15,000. To address the emergency situation, the finance department has allocated Rs 2 lakh. However, this amount is sufficient to cover expenses for only ten days.
The postal department is responsible for facilitating various financial transactions, responding to inquiries, and disseminating information about files to different departments and individuals. The daily work of the department involves affixing a stamp seal to envelopes using a specialised machine. The franking machine calculates the weight and seals the envelope for the specified amount. The funds for the stamp are transferred from the Treasury to the post office via mobile charging methods, after which the machine accepts the required amount. These stamping expenses are typically covered within the fund allocated for office matters.
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