Question : PLAN FOR POSTAL DEPARTMENT .

THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI A RAJA)

(a) to (c) 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 (c) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 239 FOR 20TH JULY, 2009 REGARDING PLAN FOR POSTAL DEPARTMENT.

(a) The total number of post offices, departmental employees and Gramin Dak Sevaks previously known as Extra-Departmental Agents) is given below:

Number of post Offices	Number of Departmental employees	Number of Gramin Dak Sevaks
as on 31,03.2008	as on 31.03.2008	as on as on 31.3.2008
Departmental: 25538	2,18,434	2,76,155
Extra
Depaartmental:129497	Total:1,55,035

(b) & (c) Yes, Sir. Government have evolved the following strategies to make the Department competitive and effective by streamlining and modernizing postal services:

.Mail Services:

# Modernizing mail operations through introduction of Mail Business Offices.

# Improving productivity by reorganization of mail offices.

# Induction of freighter aircraft in 2007 for carriage of mail in the North East Region to expedite

mail transmission and delivery.

Premium Services:

# Introduction of competitive pricing for Speed Post under One India One Rate scheme as well as local speed post.

# Induction of technology for effective booking & delivery of speed post articles.

# Web-based Track & Trace of Speed Post articles and bar coding of articles.

# Introduction of e-based services.

Financial Services:

# Improving financial services through computerization of savings bank operations (Sanchay Post)

Technology:

# Utilizing technology for improving productivity in post offices.

# Computerizing and Networking post offices for increased productivity in provision of counter services as well as in back end operations;

Training:

# Imparting of soft skills training to counter and delivery staff for efficient delivery of services.