Question : Opening of Post Offices

(a) whether the Government has laid down norms for the opening up of new post offices and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether new post offices are opened through redeployment of posts and relocation of post office, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) the number of new branch post offices opened during each of the last three years, State/UT-wise, including Tripura and Uttar Pradesh;

(d) whether the Government has received requests from States to open new post offices in rural and under developed areas, if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government in this regard;

(e) the quantum of revenue earned by post offices during the said period;

(f) whether the Government has installed ATM machines/core banking solutions/internet kiosks with net banking facilities for the post office saving bank account holders in rural and backward areas of the country especially in Tripura and Uttar Pradesh, if so, the details thereof; and

(g) the other steps taken by the Government to attract people residing in rural areas to invest in post office small saving schemes?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS,
HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

(a) Yes, Sir. The Government has laid down norms of distance, population and anticipated income for opening of new post offices. The details are at Annexure-I.

(b) Yes, Sir. As an ongoing process, new Post offices are opened through redeployment of posts and relocation of post offices to increase access to postal network in needy and justified areas, based on norms, under the scheme- “Rural Business & Access to Postal Network”. During the last three years, a total of 419 Post Offices were opened by redeployment of posts and relocation of Post Offices, in the country.

(c) A total of 1986 new Branch Post offices were opened during the last three years, including 3 in Tripura and 12 in Uttar Pradesh. State/ UT-wise details of new Branch Post Offices opened are at Annexure-II.

(d) No Sir, no requests have been received from State Governments to open new post offices in rural and under-developed areas.

(e) The year wise revenue earned by Post Offices during the last three years is as under-
<pre>
Year Total Revenue (Rupees In crores)
2016-17 11511.00
2017-18 12832.76
2018-19 13195.68
</pre>
(f) Yes, Sir, The Government has installed 997 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs),of which, 3 are in Tripura and 89 in Uttar Pradesh. Core Banking services are provided through 137606 Post Offices in rural and backward area of the country of which, 583 are in Tripura and 15536 in Uttar Pradesh. The concept of internet kiosk has not been implemented in Post Offices.

(g) The Government has organized seminars/Melas /Road shows including dedicated campaign name “Balika Shakti” for popularizing Sukanya Samriddhi Accounts as an outreach programme to attract people of rural areas to invest in post offices. In addition, India Post Payment Bank has been established in all the Post Offices, to provide for value added services for Saving Bank Account holders, such as Sweep in and Sweep out for withdrawal and deposit of funds in their Saving Bank Account and transferring fund of selected small Saving schemes such as Recurring deposit, Public Provident Fund, Sukanya Samradhi Account and loan against Recurring deposits.