New Delhi, June 28
Prem Lal, a postman from Himachal Pradesh, who covers 32 km daily to get mail to people in the far reaches of Lahaul today bagged the prestigious Meghdoot Award of the department of posts.
Instituted in 1984, the award is the highest recognition of the Department of Posts at national level for overall performance and excellence of its employees. This award is conferred in eight separate categories and carries a medallion, certificate and cash award of Rs. 21,000.
Elated at the recognition presented by Communications minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today, Prem Lal pledged to keep working for the people of his area.
Posted as a mail runner in Mandi Division, Prem Lal covers the Udaipur Shalgran Mail Line of Lahaul which spans a distance of 32 kilometers.
His work involves moving across difficult terrains at an altitude of over 9000 feet above mean sea level.
"It is snowbound for most part of the year and is known to have avalanches during winter. While moving on this line, fraught with risk and danger, Prem Lal uninterruptedly completes his daily to and fro journey," the postman's citation reads.
Prem Lal was among the eight awardees on the occasion which also saw the government launch 'Dak Karmayogi', an e-learning portal of the Department of Posts to impart digital training to four lakh rural gramin sewaks of the government.
Courtesy: Tribune News Service