A massive transformation
of the Department of Posts is being undertaken by the Ministry of
Communications & Information Technology which will metamorphose the
Department - now better known to the nation as India Post - into a technology
driven Department. For this the Government has approved an IT Modernization
Project with a total outlay of Rs 4,909 crore. The unique Project involves
networking of all the 1,55,000 post offices spread across the country rolling
out Core Banking Solution for Post Office Saving
Bank, McCamish Insurance Solution for Postal Life Insurance and will
enable track and trace of all accountable mails in the country. The IT
Modernization Project commenced in 2012 and is expected to be operational by
2015. It covers eight segments which are under various stages of implementation
and operationalization. A dedicated Data Centre is already in place.
This Project is
unparalleled in terms of its scale and underlines the commitment of the
Department of Posts to provide better services to the customers, and ensure
higher employee satisfaction. The project is intended to build a wider reach to
Indian populace through more customer interaction channels.
The Core Banking
Solutions (CBS) in All Departmental Post Offices
The Department of Posts
is also implementing the Core Banking Solutions (CBS) in all Departmental Post
Offices during the current Five Year Plan. The Project introduces the
facilities of ATM banking, mobile banking, phone banking, National Electronic
Fund Transfer (NEFT) and Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) to the Post Office
Savings Bank (POSB) customers. It will enable the Post Office Saving
Bank customers to undertake anytime anywhere banking through a network of
ATMs. CBS has been rolled out in 38 pilot Post Offices and is
expected to be rolled out in all departmental Post Offices by 2015. The Project
will IT enable the Branch Post Offices with a bio-metric hand held
device, which isAadhaar enabled, printer and
solar power to charge battery.
Initiatives to Improve
the Quality of Mail Related Services Across The Country
The Department of Posts
has also taken initiatives to improve the quality of mail related services
across the country. As part of the Mail Network Optimization Project (MNOP),
the operational network for the delivery of mails has been restructured and the
processes redesigned. An online monitoring system has been developed for a more
effective monitoring of Speed Post Registered Post. An online track and trace
system is also in place for registered articles on a pattern similar to the
tracking of Speed Post articles. Automated Mail Processing Centers (AMPCs) have
been set up at Delhi and Kolkata to further expedite the mail sorting
activities. A Global Positioning System (GPS) system has been installed in mail
vehicles in the North East Region for a better monitoring of the movement of
mail carriages.
Providing Computers and
Peripherals to All Departmental Post Offices
The Department of Posts
has also provided computers and peripherals to all 25,145 departmental Post
Offices in the country to enhance their efficiency. Remotely Managed Franking
Machines (RMFMs) are also being supplied to the post offices in a phased
manner. These machines have a number of security features, like
generation of 2D barcodes to assist traceable evidence of postage. These
machines will improve the efficiency of the post offices by faster franking of
articles and also help in having a ready data base of customers in an
electronic form.
‘Project Arrow’
Department of Posts has
also launched a Quality Improvement Project called ‘Project Arrow’ in April
2008, which entails a comprehensive improvement of the Core Operations of Post
Offices as well as the ambience (Look and Feel) in which postal transaction are
undertaken.
The Department of Posts
has evolved a Sevottam complaint Citizen’s Charter laying down the
service delivery norms of various postal products and services. A
monitoring mechanism to ensure the quality of services and
prompt redressal of public grievances is in place at all levels. It
is also operating the Central Public Grievance Redressal and
Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) to handle complaints.
New services like e-IPO,
e-Post, Express Parcel Post, Business Parcel Post have been introduced which
not only open new revenue streams but also lead to widen the reach of the post
offices and provide the customer with value added services.
Market Share on the Rise
The market share of the
value added services of the Department of Post vis-à-vis private couriers has
increased in last two year which are:
|
Sl. No.
|
Name
of Products / Services
|
Market Share
|
|
|
2011
|
2012
|
|
1
|
Speed Post
|
15.1% to 18.3%
|
16.7% to 19.8%
|
|
2
|
Express Parcel Post
|
4% to 6%
|
5% to 7%
|
Increasing Revenue
Generation
The efficacy of the steps
taken by the Government is also reflected in the fact that the Revenue
generation of Postal Services is increasing every year, and the targets for
each coming year are raised by the Government. The revenue generated and
expenditure incurred by the Postal Department, during the last three years and
the current year year-wise, are:
(Rs.
in crore)
|
Year
|
Revenue
|
|
2010-11
|
6,962.3
|
|
2011-12
|
7,899.4
|
|
2012-13
|
9,366.5
|
|
2013-14
(up to Dec' 2013)
|
7,733.2
|
To further increase the
revenue the Department has taken following steps:
· Beside the IT
Modernization project, a series of initiatives have been taken under Mail
Network Optimization Project in order to improve the quality of mail services.
· Launching special drives
for covering more persons under the small saving network, especially in rural
areas. Similar drives are also launched to popularize Postal Life Insurance
(PLI) and Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI) so that life cover / savings is encouraged
among the rural population.
· Financial Performance of
each postal circle related to revenue and expenditure are reviewed on regular
basis.
· Rationalization of postal
products to improve service delivery in the light of market demand.
(PIB Features.)
******
*Deputy Director
(M&C), PIB, New Delhi.
With inputs from the
Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications & IT.
