Vishü Rita Krocha
Morung Express News
At a time when the state capital of Nagaland is intently contending to figure in the list of India’s ambitious project on Smart Cities, the urban dwellers of Kohima does not even have a proper address system.
This challenge of improper address system or the lack of a proper formal address is also stifling the uptake of electronic commerce in the Nagaland capital.
In the wake of ‘online shopping’, the use of courier and delivery services such as India Post, Blue Dart, and DTDC etc has increased manifold.
While the use of mobile phones may have reduced correspondence to a large extent, parcel delivery has increased 3-4 folds as per the record of the Kohima Head Post Office.
However, the lack of clear residential markings by local authorities is making it difficult for courier services to locating residential units to deliver parcels, forcing the recipients to pick up goods from the courier service office itself.
Speed Post Manager of Kohima Head Post Office, Kekhriezetuo Solo expressed concern on the random house numbering in several pockets of Kohima.
He observed that some citizens have 2-3 house numbers including those given by their respective department (citing the instance of a government quarter number), colony or the number provided as per the Census. “Citizens themselves are confused with their house number,” he pointed out.
While house numbering are not done serially, he said there is further confusion in the case a new building crop up in between two existing houses. “In such cases, the post man will not be able to locate the house of the addressee”, he maintained.
Communication wise, he felt that Nagas do not know how to use their postal addresses. In addition to the lack of systematic house numbering, he said the addressees are still very ignorant, and urged upon using landmarks, which, he said is very essential.
“We need landmarks,” he emphasized. He cited the instance of a person whose address simply read the person’s name, followed by “Blue Dart, Kohima.”
The recipient in this particular context was apparently of the understanding that his article would come through Blue Dart Courier whereas the dispatcher had chosen the service of India Post to dispatch the parcel. Postmaster of Kohima Head Post Office, Kekhrieletso Kelio substantiated by stating that many people also provide fake contact numbers which further hamper the process of delivery.
On lack of awareness amongst citizens in providing proper addresses, R.M Patel, Director Postal Services, Nagaland who took charge a couple of months back, proposed that awareness programmes can be conducted by the department in this connection.
Administrator of Kohima Municipal Council (KMC), Kovi Meyase while expressing concern on the absence of uniformity in house numbering, also pointed fault to the various number of lanes and localities that have names, but not known in officially capacity. Towards this end, he suggested that the government should officially give recognition to such names and places. He felt that a policy or a formula should be worked out at the highest level while also pointing to the lack of basic social needs and issues in many areas.
It is also learnt that house mapping and other data collections for water, electricity, number of household, educational institute & health facilities, was previously undertaken by an agency called SIPMIU (State Investment Program Management Implementing Unit), a cell under Urban Development, and financially aided by ADB. The outcome of this project could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report.
