>From GL Let us hope that 2025 brings out the best among goanetters rather than be chronic complainers. Patricia Riemens should have provided book postal rates in the country she lives in, before casting nefarious motives to the Indian postal service or the government - another example of sowing discord without leaving fingerprints. The postal service has to be paid for by the users of the service. The past postal rates (in the last paragraph) were ridiculously low even by Indian standards. A price of chai would be more than the rates being charged. It would appear for most 7X5 books which weigh less than one Kg the rate has not changed. This change in postal rate may be a boom for the local bookstores. Best wishes and a Happy New Year, GL From: Patrice Riemens On the contrary, it is a well calculated, deliberate move to harm culture, the hatred bookish culture of the wokish middle classes, but even more, it is intended to hurt the avenues of learning and advancement of the less privileged, often rural demographics, often living in faraway places without libraries and good connectivity. From: "AF P" https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/the-end-of-an-era-india-post-abolishes-its-book-post-service
The End Of An Era: India Post Abolishes Its Book Post Service This initiative was thoughtfully designed to promote education, encourage reading habits, and facilitate the nationwide dissemination of knowledge. Under the Registered Book Post (RBP) service, shipping five kilos of books costs a mere Rs 80, with nationwide rates unmatched by any courier service. Moreover, India Post's vast network, spanning 19,101 pin codes and covering 154,725 post offices in India, ensured prompt delivery. Most parcels arrived within a week, and local deliveries within a city often reached their destinations the next day. The government provided these subsidized rates specifically to nurture a culture of reading. Books, magazines and periodicals were all eligible for these concessions. Consider the stark difference in charges between RBP and 'Registered Parcel: A one kg RBP' cost Rs 32, compared to Rs 78 by 'Registered Parcel'. For two kgs, the rates are Rs 45 and Rs 116 respectively and for five kgs, Rs 80 and Rs 229.
