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The Minister for Communication and IT , Mr Dayanidhi Maran, and the Minister of State, Dr Shakeel Ahmed, at the closing ceremony of the Sesquicentennial Year celebrations of India Post in the Capital on Tuesday. — Ramesh Sharma

New Delhi , Oct. 18

THE Department of Post has sought an additional financial support of Rs 625 crore to computerise all the 26,000 post offices across the country.

Mr Dayanidhi Maran, Minister for Communication and IT, also announced a slew of new postal products and services such as corporate e-post and a new-look letter box, at a ceremony held today to mark the 150 years of India Post.

Mr Maran said he had written to the Prime Minister and the Planning Commission for the additional financial support. "The computerised and networked backbone of post offices would provide opportunities to Central and State governments, business community, and financial and micro credit institutions to use the postal infrastructure for e-governance," Mr Maran said.

On the occasion, the Minister released a set of sesquicentennial thematic stamps and an A-4 size standardised white envelope. The sesquicentennial thematic stamps are a set of four commemorative stamps depicting the letter boxes over time and the A-4 size standardised white envelope with a top opening, bar code serration at top right corner is priced at Rs 5.

"The objective of introducing this kind of envelope is due to the fast growing commercial demand, that is, business-to-business and business-to-customer. The business letters require a wider envelope than the old embossed envelopes offered by the Department of Post," said a press release.

The Minister also gave away the financial performance awards to various postal circles in three categories, postal life insurance awards and Meghdoot awards in recognition and rewarding the employees for excellence in service.

To revamp the postal structure, the Government has taken two major initiatives including the Systems Study by KPMG and setting up of an Inter Ministerial Group to chart the path ahead.

"The recommendations of the Inter-Ministerial Group and KPMG Systems Study should transform the Post in the coming year towards financial self- sufficiency and compete in an increasingly competitive environment." Mr Maran said.

The Minister said there was also an initiative to re-orient the mail services to meet variant niche customer requirements by providing value additions. For example city post - a competitively priced local mail service, an inter-city mail service with assured next day delivery, and a premium speed post service between central business districts of major metros with electronic information of delivery facility are on the anvil.

The proposed launch of immediate Money Order (iMO) next month as an on-line money transmission system will add to the basket of instant products to cater to the customers at a faster speed, said a press release.

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