While Indian Posts has undertaken an IT Modernisation Project since 2012 to take care of its seven flagship schemes, it has not been extended to any part of Odisha. “Forget about the modernisation project, even the basic postal stationeries are not sufficiently available in the State’s post offices, as a result of which Odisha people feel letdown in taking benefit of the postal schemes,” said Odisha High Court advocate Pradeep Kumar Pattnaik here.
Many Cuttack lawyers recently visited the main post office here at Chandinichowk, where they were shocked to find that apart from stationeries, the post office did not have even the application forms meant for opening savings accounts, recurring deposits, time deposits, monthly income account scheme, senior citizens; savings scheme, public provident fund and National Savings Certificates (NSCs).
Acting upon a memorandum submitted by the advocates, an Assistant Director in the office of the Chief Post Master General in Bhubaneswar has directed the Senior Superintendent of Post Offices of the Cuttack City Division to inquire into the allegations personally and submit a report immediately, Patnaik informed.
Patnaik alleged that though core banking solution (CBS) is being implemented across the country, not a single post office in Odisha has been put into CBS environment.
“Similarly, Odisha is lacking in post office ATMs, which have been introduced in several parts of the country to help customers withdraw money anytime,” Patnaik alleged, suggesting that all post offices in the State have “May I Help You” desks to facilitate the customers to take best use of the postal schemes.