Hi Gabriel and all goanetters,
Gabriel here makes the point of 'a post code with extensions' to represent a
'whole address'. That sort of complete post code can wait,at least in the
case of Goa/India. What I am trying to highlight is the fact that there is
already a system of postal codes in place in Goa and the whole of India.
These are codes that identify the 'Collection and Delivery' Post Office for
the area, under it's jurisdiction.
Once say a mail item goes to a particular code post office, then the postal
staff there, know (from the house no. and or the street no. and the street
name) where the said item is to be delivered. That makes it so much easier
for the postman to deliver, without the long to very long addresses on
Indian mail items. So a typical addressee would be: Mr Pandu Shappodkar;
house No. 69, Street name; Panjim 403001, Goa India. See, just three or at
most four lines, and a minimum of particulars.
What is required to be done is, in addition to the post code, the house nos
and the street no. and the street names have to be properly marked and
displayed. Where required, more post offices with code number as per the
existing format can be added, as population and towns grow is size.
What is happenning today is that people are writing all sorts of unnecessary
info like taluka name and district name and references to proximity to
prominent places etc. The house no , the street name and street no. and the
post code covers all of that extra long info. All that needs to be done is
to educate people to use these nos. and post codes without any extraneous
info, and popularise them,and then enforce their use, without those other
unwanted particulars.
The Australian post code system is fully functional and automated machines
are used to sort mail by machines scanning these codes, witten at the right
lower corner of all enveloppes and posted parcels etc.! Then further sorting
is done only at the delivery Post Office, by the postmen, the foot/two
wheeler deliverymen.
Like my post code 3108; it identifies that my delivery post office covers
the postal district known as Doncaster Victoria Australia. '3' stands for
the State of Victoria, and '108' is the no. of my delivery post office in
Doncaster. (Whether the same is in CBD or Greater Melbourne suburb is
immaterial!) Thereby my shortest address comes to: Nasci Caldeira, 83 Street
Name, Australia, 3108.
Or at most: Nasci Caldeira, 83 Street Name, Doncaster Vic. 3108, Australia.
I must add also that this is the similar way that I address my relatives and
friends in Canada, USA, and the UK; only the style of post codes is
different. Like in UK and Canada the post codes are a mix of numbers and
letters; whilst in the USA they are '5' digit numbers followed by the first
two letters of the State name. (Florida is FL. Caifornia CA and so on).
From: Gabriel de Figueiredo <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Goanet]Postal codes et al
Date: Sun, 24 Jul 2005 23:46:02 +1000 (EST)
Nasci,
Postal codes in different countries delineate areas in
vastly different ways. e.g. in Goa, 403001
practically indicates whole of Panjim, therefore of
very little use to reduce the stuff that constitutes
an address for purposes of delivery of a letter.
Cheers,
Gabriel de Figueiredo.
Melbourne -Australia.
