Postal Manual Vol. VIII - India Post

274 “Fixed Beat” system :- In the case of fixed beats, the route lists supplied to each
village postman should be accompanied by a map of the beat and should show, in addition to the
names of the villages to be visited by him, the route to be followed by him, the days fixed for his
departure from and return to the post office, the day on which each village should be visited by
him and the villages in which he is allowed to halt. The route laid down must be rigidly adhered to.
No discretion is given, and the prescribed visits must be paid on the days, fixed, even though it be
well known that there is no correspondence for collection or delivery. The fixed beat system is best
adapted to populous localities, where there is ordinarily some correspondence for every village.
NOTE:- See Note below Rule 132.
275. “Unfixed Beat” system:-In the case of unfixed beats, the village postman’s visit to a
particular village depends, not on a prescribed tour, but on whether there is correspondence for
any particular village, the more frequent will be the deliveries in that village. Part of a beat may be
“Fixed” and part “Unfixed”: and, in the case of a beat which is otherwise all unfixed: all villages
with letter-boxes and any villages for which there are always letters for delivery should be treated
as if they were in a “fixed beat “ as regards both the preparation of a route map and the duties of
the village postmen.
NOTE:- See Note below Rule 132.
276. Village sorting lists:-The Inspector should supply each head, sub or branch office in
his sub-division including first class head offices, with a village sorting list (M-52) showing (a) the
Nos. of village postmen to whom articles are made over for delivery, and (b) the names of villages
which are served by each village postman and by each subordinate office arranged in alphabetical
order. the village sorting list should also show in what villages letter-boxes are placed and which
of these letter-boxes are provided with changeable plates.
NOTE:- See Note below Rule 132.
277. Village return:-The Inspector will receive in March every year direct from each
head, sub and branch office in his sub-division, a return(MS-88) kept for the first fourteen days in
that month showing the number of articles of all sorts(including money orders) received daily for
delivery in each village within the jurisdiction of the office. The Inspector should examine these
returns and forward them to the Superintendent with any remarks and forward them to the
Superintendent with any remarks he may have to make. The returns should be submitted to the
Superintendent not later than the Ist April every year.
278.Letter –Boxes:-(1) The Inspector should maintain a correct up-to-date record of all
letter-boxes within his jurisdiction in the form of a statement given below:-
Statement of letter-boxes in the ………………….. division.