New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Communications Shri Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani addressed the Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) Sammelan in Chennai, Tamil Nadu on Sunday and highlighted the historic role of India Post in connecting communities and delivering governance to the last mile.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Pemmasani described GDS employees as the “heartbeat of rural India”, noting that they connect government services with citizens across the country.
“From letters to parcels, from government schemes to banking, from Aadhaar to passport services — you reach every village, every street and every household. Through burning sun and pouring rain, you have been a bridge of trust and a story of service for rural India,” he said while welcoming the GDS community.
Recalling the long history of organised communication systems in India, the Minister of State noted that during the Mauryan Empire, Emperor Chandragupta Maurya maintained a royal messenger service, while the Cholas, Pandyas and Cheras in the Tamil region operated extensive messenger networks across their territories. The modern postal system took shape with the establishment of the General Post Office in Calcutta in 1774, and India Post in its present form was established on 1 October 1854.
