Writing
those magical six-digit numbers in your letters could help them reach
the right destination even if the address is incomplete. Pincodes, an
abbreviation of postal index number code, that completes an address are
often not given much significance.
A
contest on usage of pincode recently conducted by the Tamil Nadu circle
of the Department of Posts threw up many surprises. Of the 42,000
entries from across the State and Puducherry, only 3,560 had correct
answers. Some of the winners chosen through a lucky draw here recently
were primary school students from districts such as Tuticorin and
Puducherry.
Though
introduced to identify a particular location in a city and facilitate
delivery of letters, specifying pincodes in addresses have become
mandatory to obtain several services.
Even
after three decades since its launch on August 15, 1972, only 60 per
cent of the people are aware of pincodes. Officials of the Postal
Department recalled instances when the mails travelled to different
locations sharing the same name because they were devoid of pincode.
Postmen played a pivotal role in delivering mails without proper address
or pincode.
Right
from how many digits does a pincode contain what they signify to their
meaning, the contest had put forth interesting and informative questions
to the participants.
Tamil
Nadu and Kerala share the first digit of the pincode. While the first
three digits indicate the district, the last three refer to the delivery
post office. Starting from GPO (600001), Chennai has pincodes up to
600126 (Madambakkam).
Chief
Post Master General (Tamil Nadu circle), Shanthi Nair, said the contest
was open to school, college students and other customers to popularise
the concept of using pincode. On an average, one or two pincodes are
added in the State every year. When a delivery post office is merged,
its pincode is later allotted to another. But, merging a post office
with a separate pincode is a rare occurrence.
While three toppers get a laptop each, seven persons who share the second place won digital cameras, she said.
Since its launch in 1972 only 60 per cent of the people are aware of pincodes. The contest brought out interesting queries.
Source : the Hindu
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