Question : MODERNISATION OF POSTAL DEPARTMENT

(a) whether the Government proposes to modernise the postal department with latest and sophisticated technical equipments;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the steps taken by the Government to make it a profit earning organisation?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DR. SHAKEEL AHMAD)

(a) Yes, Sir.

(b) In the XIth Plan the Department of Posts has submitted a proposal to the Planning Commission for:

(i) computerization of 17598 Departmental Post Offices and 64,000 Branch Post Offices and network all computerized offices

(ii) provide Automatic Mail Processing Centres

(iii) Provide Remotely managed Franking Machines and Cash Counting Machines

(iv) Provide anywhere anytime banking.

(c) Following steps have been taken by the Department to enhance the revenue earning ability of the organization:

(i) Business Development and Marketing Directorate has been set up in the Department of Posts. It aims at developing new products and services and aims to make Department of Posts a customer oriented organization with business approach.

(ii) A number of business products like Speed Post, Express Parcel Post and Business Post have been introduced.

(iii) Value additions like collection from customer premises, credit facility, volume based discounts, door to door delivery, online track and trace system, pre-mailing services etc. have been introduced.

(iv) Retail network of the Department of Post has been leveraged for providing new services and generating additional revenue.

(v) The department has taken initiatives to work out various business alliances and partnership with public and private corporations for leveraging the postal network in rural as well as urban areas.