Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Saturday, May 18, 2002
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Saturday, May 18, 2002 |
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Info-Tech
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E-Commerce & E-Business Government - Policy Logistics - Supply Chain Management Postal dept allowed to offer e-enabled services Our Bureau
NEW DELHI, May 17 THE Union Communications Minister, Mr Pramod Mahajan, introduced the Indian Post Office (Amendment) Bill, 2002, in Parliament on Friday, proposing comprehensive changes to the Indian Post Office Act, 1898 (IPO Act). The Bill, among others, seeks to make the existing penal provisions in the IPO Act more stringent. It also provides statutory basis for the postal services board, empowers the Department of Posts to introduce e-enabled services bridging the digital divide in the country and empowers the Union Government to introduce customised new services and products and generate adequate resources while meeting its social obligations. According to the statement of objects and reasons, the impact of the developments in information technology and in the field of communications has transformed the perception and expectations of the consumers of postal services and products. Consequently, in the new environment, only such services and products that meet the requirement of the consumers would be relevant. In the context of changes in the field of communications, the amendment of the IPO Act, 1898 has become urgent to bring about qualitative improvement in the services with more consumer friendly features. The amendment Bill provides for vesting the Central Government with necessary powers to monitor the usage, maintenance and inspection of postage franking machine so as to deal with usage of such machine under the law. The Centre will also be empowered to grant rebate for pre-payment of postage on postal articles by means of a stamping machine. The Bill further seeks to restrict the transmission of business reply cards along with a registered newspaper only for bona-fide subscription of the newspaper. In a move aimed at safeguarding the consumer interests, the new amendments provide for registration and accountability of private entrepreneurs commonly known as ``couriers''. It may be recalled that the IPO Act was first sought to be amended in 1986. However, the President returned it to the Rajya Sabha for reconsideration under the proviso to Article 111 of the Constitution. The Bill introduced in 1986 has been recently withdrawn to pave the way for introduction of the Indian Post Office (Amendment) Bill 2002.
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