(a) whether post offices have been opened in all the villages of the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the number of post offices likely to be opened
during the current financial year, State-wise;
(c) whether all the post offices have been equipped with the facility of e-mail, internet
and computer in the country;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the time by which all the post offices are likely to be equipped with the above
facilities?
THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI A RAJA)
(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the table of the House.
STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK
SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 127 FOR 13TH JULY, 2009 REGARDING OPENING OF POST OFFICES.
(a) No, Sir. The Post Offices are opened in rural areas only after satisfying the norms
of population viz 3000 for normal areas, 500 for individual villages in Hilly/Tribal areas and
1000 for a group of villages in Hilly/Tribal areas, with a distance of 3 Kms. from nearest post
office and financial norms laid down by the Department. All the villages in the country do
not satisfy these parameters, therefore Post Offices have not been opened in all the villages
of the country.
(b) The number of Post Offices available in villages State-wise is given in Annexure-I.
As regards number of Post Offices to be opened during the current year, it is submitted that
besides above norms, opening of Post Offices is further dependant upon the availability of
manpower and funds under Plan schemes. Targets have not been finalized in view of non-
availability of manpower.
(c) All Post Offices in the country have not been provided with e-mail, internet and computers.
Out of 25,538 Departmental Post Offices, only 9684 Post Offices have been provided with
computers so far (as on 31.3.2009). To expedite the process of computerization, the
Department has launched ‘Project Arrow’ that inter-alia covers total computerization of 50
Post Offices in Phase-I, 450 Post Offices in Phase-II and 500 Post Offices in Phase-III
(Proposed). Total computerization includes eMO, iMO, e-post, e-payment and other e-based
services. Computerisation of Branch Post Offices has not been undertaken yet.
(d) Circle-wise breakup of Post Offices supplied with computers is annexed (Annexure – II).
(e) Provision of computers and networking of Post Offices is an ongoing programme and is
being pursued in a phased manner.