The Universal Postal Union (UPU) was established in the year 1874 at Berne (Switzerland). More than 150 member countries of UPU celebrates its foundation day, i.e, October 9 worldwide as the World Post Day since 1969.
The purpose of the World Post Day is to create awareness on role and services of postal sector and its contribution to the social and economic growth of countries. Moving a step ahead, the India Post observes the National Postal Week every year from World Post Day i.e October 9 to 15, undertaking various activities aimed at generating a broader awareness of its products and services among its users.
1, 54, 910 post offices are functioning in India as on 31.03.2016. One post office at national level serves 8,364 people and covers an area of approximately 21.22 sqkm. The Odisha Postal Circle is providing services through 35 Head Post Offices(HO), 35 Mukhya Dak Ghars (MDG), 1,135 Sub Post Offices (SO) and 6,971 Branch Post Offices (BO) at the village levels.
The Post office savings bank is the oldest and by far the largest banking system in the country, serving the investment need of both urban and rural clientele. These services are offered as an agency service for the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. In Odisha Circle, savings bank services are available in 8,176 POs. After computerization, modernization of post offices and roll out to CBS and CIS platform, India Post offers online savings bank and insurance services and provides ATM and card swipe services to its customers. In Odisha, 44 ATMs are functioning in 35 HOs and 9 MDGs. These ATMs are also linked with other banks so that account holders of post offices can make transactions in other Bank ATMs and the vice versa.
To extend the banking service to rural people, the Reserve Bank of India permitted the India Post to run India Post Payments Bank (IPPB). This IPPB has started its functioning in two circles i.e in Bihar (in Ranchi Head Post Office) and Chhattisgarh (in Raipur Head Post Office). Very soon other circles will start the same. In Odisha Circle, building renovation work has already been completed for IPPB in the ground floor of Chief PMG Office. It will be launched soon.
Due to implementation of Rural Information Communication Technology (RICT), now online banking transactions can be done in BOs with help of handheld devices provided to them. In Odisha, all BOs of Bhadrak, Cuttack North and Dhenkanal Division have started transactions through RICT.
The increasing e-commerce business market in India has given a boost to the parcel segment where Business to Customer (B2C) parcels are on the rise. In view of this, Parcel Hub centres have been established and special mail vans have been engaged for prompt delivery. In order to cater to new business opportunities and to provide a fast, safe and economical solution of collection of amount at the time of its delivery and its remittance to sender, Department of Posts has introduced Cash on Delivery (COD) facility since 2.12.2013 for specific business products. In the meantime, Speed Post COD has also been introduced to facilitate the customers opting for Speed Post service of India Post. Reputed e commerce business houses like Amazon and Flipcart are availing services of India Post to reach rural areas.
Postal life Insurance introduced in the year 1884 is the oldest life insurance scheme and the Rural PlI scheme was introduced on March 24, 1995 for covering rural people. Though initially the Government employees were eligible to procure PlI, now it has been extended to Boards, Scheduled Banks, Societies, Advocates, CAs, architects and employees of limited companies, listed in the BSE and the NSE, employees of PSUs and aided educational institutions. Due to use of McCamish software now PlI premiums are paid through online at any PO in India.
The India Post is also extending services on behalf of other ministries like Railway, External Affairs, labour and Employment, Statistics and Programme Implementation, Electronics and IT( UIDAI) and Panchayatiraj. The Rail Ticket booking services are available at identified POs through Passenger Reservation System. In Odisha Circle, 23 POs are functioning as PRS centres.
Considering difficulties of common people, the Government of India has introduced Post Office Passport Sewa Kendra in identified Head Post Offices. In Odisha, presently POPSK is functioning at Sundargarh, Koraput and Sambalpur HOs. Very soon more number of POPSK will be opened at other HOs.
Some Post Offices have been identified to collect data on consumer price index for maintaining statistics of different plans. In Odisha, 49 villages have been identified for the purpose and nearest BOs / SOs are collecting CPI data per village once in a month and submitting the same to MOS and PI.
Now job oriented youth mass can register their names for different jobs at post offices instead of going to the Employment Exchanges. Now enrolment and updation of Aadhaar can be done in all HOs and all B class POs respectively. Staff have been trained by UIDAI authorities to issue Aadhar Card with authenticity. Presently Bhubaneswar GPO, Nayagarh HO, Sambalpur HO and Jharsuguda HO are updating Aadhaar information in Odisha.
Utility service bills like telephone, water and electricity are also accepted by post offices through ePayment. In Odisha, water bills are accepted in nine AMRUT cities like Bhubaneswar, Puri, Cuttack, Baleswar, Rourkela, Bhadrak, Baripada, Sambalpur and Brahmapur.
Consumers of SOUTHCO, WESCO and NESCO can pay their electricity bills through online at any PO in Odisha. Proposal regarding Collection of Municipal taxes at PO counters is in the pipeline.
The Reserve Bank of India and the Odisha Postal Circle are jointly organising financial awareness programmes at rural areas where banking services are not available so that people will not be attracted towards false assurances of chit fund companies. leaflets of RBI are distributed among households through Direct Post Services of India Post.
(The writer is Business Executive in the office of Chief Postmaster General, Odisha Circle, Bhubaneswar)