Core Banking Services of POSB hit by substandard software

POSB BRANCHES FACE FREQUENT BREAK-DOWNS

TECHNICAL PROBLEMS IN FINACLE SOFTWARE OF INFOSYS

PENSIONERS PUT INTO DIFFICULTIES IN WITHDRAWAL OF PENSION FROM SB ACCOUNTS IN POST OFFICES

Once again it is the Pensioners who draw pension from POSB are put into unnecessary trouble and strain as they could not withdraw their pension from the savings bank accounts of Post Offices. Earlier it was the POSB Pensioners who were inordinately denied payment of enhanced amount of FMA in contrast to Banks. Now it is the POSB Pensioners whose SB Accounts could not be operated due to break down of 'Finacle Software' of POSB Computer network on the Pension Day of 28th February, 2015. 

Many Pensioners in different divisions like Salem, where the system failed, returned empty handed without drawing their monthly pension! Ofcourse some divisional heads ordered urgently to resort to manual payment of  pension but not everywhere in time. This caused many senior citizens return their homes empty handed without their pension. This is deplorable. 

The occurrence of break down of Finacle software which is being used by the Postal Savings Bank Counters is frequent. Recently for three days from 19th to 21st February, the entire network numbering 2200 Post Offices in 11 Postal Circles including 94 HPOs + 850 Post Offices under CBS in Tamilnadu Postal Circle collapsed and caused unbearable strain on lakhs of customers. Again on 27th February, the system collapsed causing break down on important day viz., on 28th February. 

The Infosys offered finacle software as well as the internet service provided by Sifi have been reportedly rejected by many banking services due to bad reputation earned by these companies. Still, the Postal Department had opted to tie up with them! The Infosys reportedly behave in a uncared for manner whenever the Postal Officials report their problems. There appears that no high officer is with necessary guts to question the Infosys despite repeated problems are caused by the company's ill-reputed software!

The AIPRPA CHQ issued a call for protest demonstrations on 28th February wherever the pensioners faced problems in withdrawing their pension and to hold press brief exposing the conditions prevailing in the POSB as above. 

We got the feed back that in many divisions the SSPOs ordered manual payment of pension but in some places pensioners returned home without drawing their monthly pension. 

The AIPRPA CHQ is studying the situation and in consultation with the Postal Employees Federations and Unions appropriate measures will be undertaken to draw the attention of the Postal Administration for total remedy. All are requested to send feed back to CHQ about the conditions prevailing in their respective States / Districts either by e-mail or by post. 

K.Ragavendran

General Secretary