Bengaluru, 28 May

General Post Office (GPO) on Raj Bhavan Road has been witnessing a surge of women coming to open accounts with India Post Payment Bank (IPPB) for the last two weeks. This sudden rush occurred after a rumour, which had circulated on social media and local community groups since 6 May, falsely claimed that Monday was the deadline to register for a supposed cash guarantee scheme.

IPPB is a division of India Post that offers financial services, and it offers savings, and current and digital savings accounts. The ‘scheme’ indicated that political parties promised cash incentives in the lead-up to Lok Sabha elections, depositing Rs 6,000 and Rs 8,000 into IPPB accounts. Consequently, hundreds of women, including senior citizens, new mothers, and those with young children flocked to the GPO fuelled by these misconceptions.

Speaking to Salar News, Chief Postmaster General, HM Manjesh said: “We have no idea who started these rumours. Despite the efforts to dispel the rumours, crowds continued to come in, with some women travelling long distances to reach GPO. Notices were posted at entry gates to clarify that no such incentive programme existed. The rush caused significant inconveniences, with instances of dehydration and collapses, prompting officials to provide medical aid.”

By Wednesday afternoon, more than 3,000 women had gathered at GPO over the past week. Typically, 100-200 IPPB accounts are opened daily, but this surged to 700-800 accounts daily in the past week. KR Lakshmi Narayana, Public Relations Inspector of Bengaluru GPO, said: “In May, 7,322 IPPB accounts have been opened.” On average, around 60 IPPB accounts are opened in a month at GPO.

“Anybody can open saving accounts with IPPB by keeping a minimum deposit of Rs 200 while opening and the total amount deposited from 6 May is close to Rs 14.6 lakh.”

Sunita (name changed) from Shivajinagar said, "We heard from other women that we will get Rs 6,000 from the government if we open this account before 4 June." Shanaya (name changed) from Tannery Road said, "We learned through social media that women will get Rs 8,500 monthly. So, we want to keep an account ready for it. We are a family who is struggling to make ends meet so I do not see any harm in getting this money if it comes."

Manjesh said IPPB accounts could be opened at any nearby post office or online as well. —Salar News