It is reported in some circles that the Department of Post plans to
create a database of the Indian population in view of the massive marketing
value attached to it.
According to the report a senior official in the DOP on the condition
of anonymity, is reported to have quoted “Our aim is to compile a
100 percent database of households and businesses in each city with key
demographic and business details. On an average, a single post office serves
around 5,500 people. With this reach, we are the best when it comes to
collection of data.”
There are supposed to be over 133000 post offices in the Country which
has the potential to participate in this massive "Postal Census(?)" and
the sheer power to collect data which is of value to the marketers is unquestionable.
However while the world over concerns are being expressed on the "Right
to Privacy" and "Right not to publicize personal preferences", the current
move of the Postal authorities appears to be ill conceived. While the postal
department would conduct surveys in their locality to gather the necessary
information or use short cut methods of snooping on the mails, depends
on the honesty and integrity of the staff at the local level. If the post
man records that a particular individual gets parcels containing Viagra
on a regular basis, it would be a vital market information for many other
manufacturers of similar products. But would the addressee be happy with
such information being systematically collected and disseminated?
If Indian Post can trade on the information that comes to it because
of its status as a Government body, why not the Census department itself
expand its scope of collection of information and sell it to MNC s and
make money?
We presume that the intended move of the Department of Post is not a
considered decision and needs to be re-traced. Otherwise it would amount
to misuse of power and violation of basic right to privacy of an individual.
Naavi
September 10, 2001.
