The Hindu : New Delhi News : Plans in progress to courier ‘Gangajal’ to devotees abroad

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Monday, Jan 07, 2008
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Plans in progress to courier ‘Gangajal’ to devotees abroad

Sandeep Joshi

Talks on between postal departments and temple trusts

NEW DELHI: Lakhs of Indians living abroad, particularly Hindus, would be able to receive the holy ‘Gangajal’ at their doorsteps if plans being worked out by the Department of Posts (DoP) materialise.

The idea is to courier small bottles filled with “Gangajal” to people across the globe for which talks are on with the postal departments of various nations, reputed couriers companies and some temple trusts to make the venture a success, said sources in the DoP.

Before starting the service, the DoP wants to develop a supply and delivery network for the holy water , while its role would mainly be to collect payments and monitor coordination.

e-payment

“We are thinking of starting the e-payment system at our website — India Post — so that a non-resident Indian or any other person can make a payment and place an order with us. Some alternate payment arrangements are also being worked out. For supply of ‘Gangajal,’ we plan to rope in some temple trust, possibly based in Uttarakhand,” said a senior DoP official.

The DoP is also trying to tie up with the postal department of various nations, particularly those where Indians live in large number like the Gulf countries, the U.S., the U.K. and some South-East Asian and European nations. After the ‘Gangajal’ is delivered by a courier company or by the DoP to a particular country, its postal department will then get it delivered to its final destination, officials said.

No domestic supply

However, the department has no plans to supply it within the country, though it is operating a similar service in tie up with the Varanasi-based Shri Kashi Vishwanath Trust delivering the Kashi Vishwanath Temple ‘prasad’ at the doorstep of the devotees across the country.

When contacted, DoP Secretary I.M.G. Khan said: “In the changing global business environment, one has to think innovatively. The DoP has been receiving requests from Indians living abroad to supply various items, like ‘prasad’ from famous temples, ‘Gangajal’ and some food articles and fruits. So we are planning to try it out with ‘Gangajal’ first.”

“We are revamping our global business strategy. Once we tie up with our foreign counterparts, we might start other services also like e-commerce, getting supply orders of printing jobs and delivery of food and electronic items. This will help us earn some good revenue also,” Mr. Khan added.

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