Lok Sabha Question No. 1848 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-11
Subject: Closure and Merger of Post Offices in Kasaragod
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Shri Rajmohan Unnithan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1848 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH  FEBRUARY, 2026

## CLOSURE AND MERGER OF POST OFFICES IN KASARAGOD

## 1848.   SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  close  or  merge  long-standing  sub-post  offices  and branch post offices in Kasaragod district, including Talankara, Uppala Gate and Hosbettu, citing revenue considerations and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is a fact that these post offices serve coastal and rural populations with limited access to banking and digital services and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the impact on small savings schemes, pension disbursement and financial inclusion has been assessed and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether public protests and representations from local bodies and employees' organisations have been received opposing such closures and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken or proposed to ensure continuity of essential postal services in remote and economically weaker areas?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)

- (a) Post Offices not meeting the departmental norms are merged/relocated. Since Uppala Gate and  Hosbettu  Branch  Post  Offices  are  not  fulfilling  departmental  norms,  these  will  be  merged. However, Talankara (Talangara) Sub Post Office is not planned for merger.
- (b) Yes, Sir. These post offices serve coastal and rural populations. However, public of these areas are being provided banking and digital services by other post offices as also the bank branches are situated in these areas.
- (c) Impact on small savings schemes, pension disbursement and financial inclusion has been assessed and details are attached as Annexure .
- (d) Yes, Sir. Protest was organized by Samyuktha Samara Samithi in front of Head Post Office Kasaragod. Service Unions (JCA of NFPE and FNPO) organized Dharna in front of Kasaragod Head post office.
- (e) Melas and Special drives are conducted for popularizing various products and services of India Post. The Department of Posts has been providing all essential postal services including mail delivery services as well as financial inclusion services through its extensive network of post offices and  the  same  shall  remain  continued  across  the  country  including  all  remote  and  economically weaker areas.

Annexure referred to in reply of para (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred question No. 1848 to be answered  on  11 th   FEBRUARY,  2026  regarding  'Closure  and  Merger  of  Post  Offices  in Kasaragod'

1. As far  as  Talangara  (Talangara)  Post  Office  is  concerned  there  is  no  pension  beneficiary under its jurisdiction. While taking the proposal of merging of Talangara Post Office to Kasaragod Head Post Office there were only 1,886 accounts of which number of Savings Accounts are only 450. Though there are 1,211 Recurring Deposit accounts, major number of accounts were opened through Mahila Pradhan Kshetriya Bachat Yojana (MPKBY) Agents by the depositors of outside of Talangara area. There are 2 other Co-op Banks (Kerala Bank and Kasaragod Town co-operative bank are functioning there. So the merger may not have a severe impact on financial inclusion.

2. In the case of Uppala Gate Branch Post Office, only 26 new accounts opened during this financial  year  and  total  number  of  accounts  standing  in  that  office  is  264.  Similarly,  Hosebettu Branch Post Office has just 236 accounts only and considering the nearby sub post office and public sector bank, there would not be any adverse impact on financial inclusion. Hosebettu Branch Post Office  has  opened  only  40  new  accounts  upto  30.09.2025.  The  minimum  number  of  accounts required to be opened by a BO in the current financial year is 400.

*****