India Post abolishes Book Post service, impacting reading culture
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On December 18, 2024, India Post made the sudden and unexpected decision to abolish its widely used, and beneficial, 'Book Post' service, leaving book lovers and the literary community stunned.
The Book Post initiative, particularly the Registered Book Post (RBP) service, was a critical part of India's efforts to promote education, encourage reading, and disseminate knowledge across the nation. With this service, shipping up to five kilos of books costs only Rs 80, a price unmatched by any courier service. India Post's extensive network, covering 19,101 pin codes and 154,725 post offices, ensured prompt and reliable deliveries. Most parcels arrived within a week, and local deliveries within cities were often completed the very next day. These subsidized rates were specifically designed to support a reading culture in the country, offering discounted rates for books, magazines, and periodicals.
However, without prior consultation or any warning, India Post removed this valuable service. The Registered Book Post category was quietly erased from the postal software last week, catching even postal employees by surprise. Many were left in disbelief when customers visiting post offices were told that RBP was no longer an option.
The discontinuation of this service has created waves of distress in the publishing industry. With the cost of shipping now soaring, many readers are reluctant to pay ₹78 postage on a book priced at just Rs 100. This decision threatens to further erode India’s already fragile reading culture.
The difference in rates between the RBP and the standard 'Registered Parcel' service is stark. For instance, shipping a one kg parcel through RBP costs Rs 32, while the same parcel shipped as a Registered Parcel now costs Rs 78. For two kgs, the charges were Rs 45 for RBP, compared to Rs 116 for the alternative. For five kgs, the difference is Rs 80 for RBP and Rs 229 for the Registered Parcel.
In addition to this, the government’s imposition of a 5% import duty on sample books has further aggravated the situation. Foreign publishers, who frequently send complimentary copies of their translated works, are now burdened with this new tax. While taxing books imported for commercial purposes may be justifiable, imposing duties on non-commercial sample copies seems both unjustified and counterproductive.
Critics see this decision as yet another example of the government’s arbitrary policies, which often seem to harm rather than help the public.
As India faces the consequences of this shortsighted decision, its literary and educational aspirations are now under threat. The removal of the Book Post service represents a significant setback to the country’s commitment to literacy, education, and intellectual growth. In an era when knowledge is key to progress, dismantling a service that facilitated the spread of ideas and learning across the country is nothing short of a tragedy.