WITH a new arrangement in place, Nepal's postal service has received a much-needed fillip. After the General Post Office started using new technology, days are not far off for the country's postal service to see a new dawn. After the advancement in internet-based technology, the nation's postal service has become obsolete. These days, many people don't send or receive letters because they can do so through mobile-phone-based applications. But whatever letters and parcels are sent through our postal services, they cannot reach their desired destinations owing to our archaic delivery system and difficult terrains.
However, the prevailing problems in our postal delivery system will be addressed, to a large extent, after the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology gave a go-ahead to the GPO to use tech-giant Google's widely used application for the delivery of letters and parcels by locating the exact addresses. The GPO is all set to utilise Google Plus to locate the address of the recipients which would certainly reinvigorate the postal service in the country. The letters and goods that are not addressed now only need to have Google Plus codes of the recipients. These codes, which must be mentioned by the senders, have to be mentioned in the letters along with the names and address of the receivers, which will enable the postal services to deliver the letters and parcels to their exact address. This will save the GPO from the ire of citizens for being an inefficient service provider.
The operational procedure requires service seekers to generate the global positioning system-based codes for their homes, offices or buildings and display the codes by writing them on a small plate and affix them on their entrance gate. As is the case with many government-related services, the code-based postal delivery system will be available in the Kathmandu Valley where the facility will be launched as pilot testing. The service will be rolled out outside the valley in a gradual manner. The GPO has provided preliminary training to its staff for the purpose. The employees will find the code-based delivery system easy while the people willing to receive this service can generate Google Plus code for their desired locations on their smartphones by using Google Maps.
One of the backward nations in terms of utilising modern technology, Nepal is in urgent need of integrating technology into its various public service providing mechanism. At present, many services, especially public services, can be availed much faster if it is they are delivered with the help of modern technology. The postal service in the country, which has slipped into oblivion owing to its erratic services and lacklustre response to ever-evolving technology after the advent of the internet and computer applications, is expected to receive new lease of life following the commencement of the code-based mail delivery system. With efficient service, the faith and trust in our postal service will only multiply in the days to come.