BENGALURU: Believing multiple rumours that they can get cash running into thousands, from the new Central government if they just opened a postal savings account, hundreds of women have been queuing up outside the General Post Office in the last one week. Female cops and post office security staff have been deployed, to tackle the crowd which comes in, right from 6 am.
With hardly any seating space available, women were standing in queues for long hours to open an account with the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), which facilitates online transactions (similar to a bank account).
Interaction with the women revealed that they were here after hearing rumours through word of mouth, or on social media about one of the government freebies - a Central government subsidy on the lines of the State’s Gruhalakshmi scheme - Rs 6,000 will be provided if the BJP is voted to power, and Rs 8,500 will be provided if Congress wins the elections. Thanks to the ‘Shakti scheme’, women opted to avail the free travel and come from remote parts, to the main post office instead of their local post offices, said Postman Annappa Swamy, who was working non-stop, with 8 other staffers to tackle the rush.
Junaid Khan from Tannery Road, said, “We learned through social media that women will get Rs 8,500 monthly if Congress comes to power. So, we want to keep an account ready for it.”
Anita from Kundanahalli said, “We heard from other women, that we will get Rs 6,000 from the BJP if they come to power.” Postman J Vijayan, said, “The crowd is too high the last one week. The Aadhaar card, mobile number, mother’s name, and biometrics are what we gather from each person and the account is opened immediately,” he said.
Divakara NR, Assistant General Manager, Circle Head, Karnataka, said, “Over 3,000 accounts have been opened in the last one month.”