Question : POST OFFICE FACILITY TO PANCHAYATS

(a) whether all the Gram Panchayats in the country are provided with Post Office facility;

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the name of Gram Panchayats which are yet to be provided with such facility, State-wise, including Uttar Pradesh and Madhubani in Bihar;

(c) the steps taken and time frame fixed for providing such facilities to left out village Panchayats, State-wise;

(d) the area-wise and category-wise number of post and telegraph offices running in their own and rented premises in each of the States in the country including Uttar Pradesh;

(e) the State-wise/area-wise number of residential colonies for post and telegraph employees in the country and whether the said number of colonies are adequate; and

(f) if not, the action taken by the Government in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DR. (SMT.) KILLI KRUPARANI)

(a)&(b) Yes, Madam. Post Offices cater to all the Gram Panchayats in the country. However, not all the Gram Panchayats have post offices located within their boundaries.The State- wise number of Gram Panchayats without post offices (as on 31.03.2013) including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar is at Annexure-I.

(c) Opening of Post Offices is an ongoing activity. Post Offices are opened under Plan scheme subject to fulfillment of certain prescribed norms, availability of Plan support and manpower. Department of Posts has decided to open 400 new Post Offices in rural areas by redeployment and relocation during 12th Plan Period, out of which 92 post offices have been opened during financial year 2012-13 against the target of 80 Post Offices. The target for opening of Post Offices in rural areas during current financial year 2013-14 is 80 and in the remaining period of the 12th Plan, 240.

(d) The State-wise number of post offices functioning in departmental and rented premises including Uttar Pradesh are at Annexure-II.

As regard telegraph offices, the telegraph services have been discontinued w.e.f. 15.07.2013. Therefore, no telegraph office is functioning in the country including Uttar Pradesh.

(e) The State-wise number of residential colonies for postal employees in the country is at Annexure-III. No quarter has been earmarked for telegraph employees separately. The number of postal colonies are adequate.

(f) Does not arise in view of (e) above.