The Sammelan, held on February 22, 2026, was attended by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, Minister of State for Communications & Rural Development Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Member (Personnel), Postal Services Board Shri Suvendu Kumar Swain, MLA Shri Mohammed Naseer Ahmed and Guntur Mayor Shri Kovelamudi Ravindra.
The event reflected the scale and significance of India Post’s grassroots workforce, with thousands of GDS personnel participating in discussions on strengthening last-mile service delivery.
Recognising Excellence
Ten best-performing Gramin Dak Sevaks were felicitated during the Sammelan for their outstanding contribution to Post Office Savings Schemes, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, Postal Life Insurance, Rural Postal Life Insurance and Direct Benefit Transfer services.
The recognition highlighted the critical role played by GDS employees in advancing financial inclusion and government welfare schemes across rural India.
India Post’s Expanding Financial Network
Addressing the gathering, Shri Scindia shared key figures reflecting the scale of India Post’s operations. He noted that nearly 38 crore Post Office Savings Bank accounts are currently managed by India Post, with deposits of around ₹22 lakh crore.
He further stated that approximately 3.8 crore Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana accounts hold deposits of about ₹2.27 lakh crore, underlining the postal network’s contribution to savings mobilisation and social security initiatives.
Modernisation and Technology Push
The Union Minister highlighted ongoing modernisation efforts within India Post’s mail and logistics network. Conveyor systems, scientific sorting processes, RFID tagging, barcoding and QR-code-enabled tracking are being introduced to enhance operational efficiency and transparency.
In challenging terrains such as Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, drone-based delivery systems are also being deployed to strengthen last-mile connectivity. These measures, he said, align with the broader vision of building a digitally empowered and service-oriented postal system.
Financial Sustainability and Performance
Minister of State Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar provided an overview of the Department’s operational scale. Nationally, the postal network operates around 1.65 lakh post offices with over 4.5 lakh employees.
He informed that the Department’s annual expenditure stands at approximately ₹35,000 crore against revenue of about ₹13,000 crore. In Andhra Pradesh, expenditure last year was around ₹1,800 crore against revenue of ₹600 crore, which has risen to nearly ₹850 crore this year.
Importantly, continuous monitoring has significantly reduced the number of ‘nil transaction’ post offices from nearly one lakh earlier to around 1,500, indicating improved performance and accountability.
Human Touch in Digital Era
Chief Minister Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu emphasised that despite rapid technological advancements, the dedication and personal connection offered by GDS employees remain irreplaceable. He described them as key partners in grassroots governance and welfare delivery.
He also underscored the importance of sustainable practices, including exploring green initiatives and electric mobility support for GDS staff.
The Mega GDS Sammelan concluded as a reaffirmation of the Department of Posts’ commitment to strengthening rural connectivity, financial inclusion and citizen-centric services. The Andhra Pradesh Postal Circle expressed gratitude to participants and dignitaries for making the event a landmark gathering in the state’s postal history.