Question : Upgrading Post Office Branches

(a) whether the Government has formulated any policy/scheme to upgrade the branch post offices and sub post offices in higher category post offices;

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor along with the steps taken by the Government in this regard;

(c) the details of the post offices where modernisation/upgradation has already been undertaken, State/UT-wise, especially in West Bengal; and

(d) the post offices where modernisation/upgradation is proposed to be undertaken in West Bengal including Balurghat?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS
(SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)

(a) Yes sir, there is a policy guideline in place for upgradation of Branch Post Offices and Sub Post Offices to higher category post offices.

(b) According to the aforesaid policy, periodical reviews of the establishment of Departmental Post offices and Branch Post offices are carried out on workload as well as on financial norms. Based on this review, augmentation and rationalization of manpower is carried out including upgradation of post offices, if any required.

(c) 154347 post offices in the country including 8768 post offices in West Bengal State have been modernized to provide online Banking, Insurance, Postal and other Citizen Centric Services. The Postal Circle wise list of such modernized offices including all States and UTs is enclosed at Annexure.

(d) In the State of West Bengal all the 8768 Post offices have been modernised including 12 Post offices in Balurghat.