Centre exploring e-scooters for rural postal staff, says Scindia at Dak Sevak Sammelan in Guntur

Guntur: Highlighting the selfless services of Dak Sevaks as the backbone of rural India, chief minister Chandrababu Naidu said no amount of technology can replace the human touch they provide in villages. He was addressing the Dak Sevak Sammelan in Guntur in the presence of Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.Naidu said Dak Sevaks have served society with dedication for over 150 years, even playing an indirect role during the freedom struggle by delivering confidential letters to freedom fighters. Their role has evolved from delivering letters and money orders to today's welfare benefits and banking services. Despite the spread of AI and digital systems, he noted that machines cannot replace their empathy and reliability. "About 33% of Direct Benefit Transfer transactions are routed through Dak Sevaks, ensuring welfare schemes reach beneficiaries efficiently," he said. Naidu urged the Union minister to consider providing electric bicycles to Dak Sevaks to promote eco-friendly mobility.Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said rural people continue to place strong trust in the postal system and described the contributions of Dak Sevaks as unforgettable. He called for providing basic facilities to these workers and assured efforts to secure Kendriya Vidyalaya admissions for their children. He also stressed strengthening the parcel system and improving speed in mail networks. "We will explore providing e-scooters to rural postal servants to aid their mobility," he added.Union junior commissions minister Pemmasani Chandrasekhar noted that Andhra Pradesh is at the forefront of postal department performance. He warned that modern technology has led to a decline in traditional postal services. "The postal department incurs an annual expenditure of ₹35,000 crore nationwide, while generating only ₹13,000 crore in revenue. After the railways, it employs the largest workforce in the country. The department must not fall into the same situation as Air India," he cautioned. He urged Dak Sevaks to think innovatively to convert deficits into profits and increase revenue.