Social security by mail

The postman may deliver more than your mail. He may be the bearer of social security benefits in future.

The department of posts (DoP) has proposed that postmen be given the task of paying wages under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme instead of contractors doing the same.

The scheme guarantees 100 days of work to every household in the 200 most backward districts of the country whose adult members volunteer to perform manual labour.

The minimum wages will be determined by the state government and an unemployment allowance will be paid in case of failure to provide 100 days' employment.

Under the law, payments are to be made on a weekly basis. The postal department is of the view that using postmen to disburse the wages will help in reducing corruption on part of the administering authorities.

Similarly, the department has suggested that postmen be used to deliver benefits under the proposed Unorganised Sector Workers' Security Bill, which envisages a minimum social security cover including health and life insurance, old-age pension and maternity benefits for all workers earning up to Rs 5,000 a month. Under the proposed Bill, workers, their employers and the government would each contribute Re 1 every day.

In disbursing the benefits under the two schemes, the DoP said the postman could play the role of a friend of the poor and the information officer for empowering them. The DoP has proposed the measures as part of new initiatives for the fiscal.

Officials said the department was in favour of a commission-based system which would generate more revenues without increasing the department's spending as postmen were already deputed across the country.

"We are willing to accept responsibilities for other welfare programmes too if we can successfully implement these two schemes," an official in the department said.

"These measures can help the department achieve self-sufficiency while continuing to fulfill its Universal Service Obligation," he added.