Justify the statement made by Postmaster-General, Rajasthan Western Region stating that the role of GDS is ‘invaluable’.
The Postmaster-General's statement that the role of GDS is invaluable is justified because they are the only link to communication and financial support in interior areas. They deliver mail in regions that are often inaccessible by any means besides foot, such as the frozen desert of Ladakh, the isles of Lakshadweep, and the riverine communities of the northeast.
Furthermore, the GDS endure extreme and harsh conditions to perform their duties. For instance, they brave scorching summer winds and swirling sandstorms in deserts, often walking long distances where water is too scarce even for washing.
The GDS form the backbone of the postal system, constituting more than 50 per cent of the total workforce. They help India Post fulfill its mandate of bringing the entire population within the mailing ambit and reach rural depositors who entrust their monthly savings to them.
Moreover, their role is vital for the survival of families in arid lands. People are heavily dependent on money orders remitted by relatives, which the GDS deliver reliably. This creates immense trust, making them warmly received in villages. A past proposal to scrap the GDS and transfer their duties to patwaris was rejected because they could not perform this crucial role.
Explanation
The answer justifies the 'invaluable' nature of the GDS by drawing on multiple points from the text: their willingness to serve in geographically inaccessible regions, their endurance of severe weather conditions, their statistical importance as over 50% of the workforce, their role in securing rural savings, and the deep trust they foster by delivering essential money orders that ensure the survival of remote families. It also notes that their specific duties cannot be easily transferred to others like patwaris.