The General Post Office in Bengaluru witnessed an unexpected surge in activity as women flocked to open accounts at the India Post Payment Bank (IPPB). Their motivation is Anticipation of a monthly deposit of ₹8,500 if the INDIA bloc wins the ongoing elections.
Despite the elections still being underway, women, particularly from minority communities wearing burqas, formed long queues to initiate the account-opening process. Many believed that opening an IPPB account would guarantee them the promised amount of ₹8,500 per month.
One woman mentioned standing in line since early morning, while another echoed the sentiments of her neighborhood, alluding to the belief that funds would start flowing as soon as the account was activated. Most of the women interviewed hailed from areas like Shivajinagar, Chamarajpet, and their surroundings in the city.
Addressing the media, Chief Post Master of GPO Bengaluru, H M Manjesh, clarified that the notion of receiving funds directly into these accounts was merely a rumor. The department had communicated this fact to customers through posters and other means, but the rush persisted.
To accommodate the influx, additional counters were set up outside the GPO building, with postmen assisting in opening accounts. Previously, around 50 to 60 accounts were processed per counter, but now the office was handling up to 1,000 accounts a day.
Sources revealed that the rush began three days prior, with speculation allegedly fueled by certain Congress MLAs. These lawmakers purportedly claimed that funds would start flowing after June 4, following the anticipated victory of the INDIA bloc.
The promise of the Mahalakshmi scheme, akin to the Gruha Lakshmi guarantee initiated by the Karnataka government, pledged ₹8,500 directly into the accounts of women heads of families below the poverty line (BPL).
As the frenzy continues, authorities work to dispel misconceptions and manage the influx of eager account holders at the post office.
