Lok Sabha Question No. 265 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Branch Post Office at Lakshmipuram
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: SUKENDER REDDY GUTHA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 265 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14 th  MARCH, 2018

## BRANCH POST OFFICE AT LAKSHMIPURAM

- *265. SHRI GUTHA SUKENDER REDDY:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received any representation regarding opening up of  a  Branch  Post  Office  at  Lakshmipuram  Village  in  Suryapet  Postal  division  of Nalgonda District, Telangana and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has taken any action on the aforesaid matter, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to expedite the establishment of the  said  Branch  Post  Office  in  view  of  the  difficulties  faced  by  the  residents  and surrounding villagers?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) to (c) A statement is laid on the table of the House.

Contd………2/-

## STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PART (a) to (c) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *265 FOR 14 TH  MARCH, 2018 ON 'BRANCH POST OFFICE AT LAKSHMIPURAM'.

(a) Yes, Madam, the Department of Posts had received a representation dated 2004-2015 from Shri Gutha Sukender Reddy, Hon'ble Member of Parliament Lok Sabha, for  sanction of  a new Branch Post Office at  Lakshmipuram village in Suryapet Postal Division of Nalgonda District in the State of Telangana.

(b) The proposal for opening of a new Branch Post Office at Lakshmipuram village in Suryapet  Postal  Division  of  Nalgonda  District  was  examined  in  consultation  with  the Chief Postmaster General, Andhra Pradesh and found not justified as per the distance norms prescribed for opening of new Branch post offices.  The same was informed to the  Hon'ble  Member  of  Parliament  vide  letter  No.1-2/2015-Plg  dated  10-07-2015.  A copy of the  reply  is  attached  as Annexure  I .    Norms  for  Opening  of  Post  Office  are attached as Annexure II.

(c) All postal facilities and services are being provided to the residents of Lakshmipuram and surrounding villages through nearby Tammara Branch Post Office and Kodada Sub Post Office.

Contd….3/-

## RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD

D.O. No. 1-2/15-Plg

Dear Shri Reddy Ji,

Kindly refer to your letter dated 20.04.2015 regarding opening of a Post office at Laxmipuram Village of Kodad Mandal, Suryapet Division, Nalgonda District, Telangana.

The case has been examined in consultation with the Chief Postmaster General, Andhra Pradesh Postal Circle. It is seen that the distance from the nearest Post Office is less than 3 Km. As per the prescribed norms, the minimum distance from the existing Post Office should not be less than 3 Km. for opening of a Post Office in normal rural areas. Therefore, opening of a Post office at Laxmipuram may not be possible.

I hope you will appreciate the constraints of the Department.

With regards,

Shri Gutha Sukender Reddy,

Member of Parliament (LS), 47, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi-110 003.

## ANNEXURE-I

MINISTER

## COMMUNICATIONS & IT GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

10.07.2015

Yours sincerely,

-Sd-

(RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

Contd…4/-

## NORMS FOR OPENING OF NEW POST OFFICES

1. Norms for opening of Branch Post Offices (BOs):
2. 1.1 Population:
3. (a) In Normal Areas:

3000 population in the group of villages to be served by the proposed post office (including 1000 population in the proposed post office village).

- (b) In Hill, Tribal, Desert and Inaccessible Areas:

500  population  in  the  individual  village  and  1000  population  in  the  group  of villages.

- 1.2 Distance:
- (a) In Normal Areas: The minimum distance from the nearest existing post office should be 3 Kms.
- (b) In  Hill,  Tribal,  Desert  and  Inaccessible  Areas: The distance limit will be the same  as  above.  However,  in  Hill  Areas,  the  minimum  distance  limit  can  be relaxed by the Postal Directorate in cases where such relaxation is warranted by special  circumstances  which  should  be  clearly  explained  while  submitting  a proposal.
- 1.3 Anticipated Income:
- (a) In Normal Areas: The minimum anticipated revenue will be 33.33 % of the cost.
- (b) In  Hill,  Tribal,  Desert  and  Inaccessible  Areas: The  minimum  anticipated income will be 15% of the cost.

It  is  further  to  be  ensured  that  as  a  result  of  opening  of  a  new  BO, the  loss  in respect of the parent post office does not increase beyond the permissible limit nor does its income reduce below the minimum prescribed.

2. Norms for upgrading/ opening of Departmental Sub Offices (SOs):
2. (a) In Rural Areas: The minimum work load of the Branch Post Office proposed to be upgraded, should be five hours per day. The permissible limit of annual loss is Rs.2400/- in normal rural areas and Rs.4800/- in hill and tribal areas.

It is further to be ensured that as a result of opening of a new post office, the loss in respect of the parent post office does not increase beyond the permissible limit nor does its income reduce below the minimum prescribed.

Contd….5/-

- (b) In Urban Areas: In urban areas, the post office should initially be self-supporting and at the time of the first annual review, it should show a 5% profit to be eligible for further retention.

The minimum distance between two post offices should be 1.5 Km. in cities with a population of 20 lakhs and above and 2 Km. in other urban areas.

No two delivery offices, however, should be closer than 5 Kms. from each other. Delivery  Post  Office  in  urban  areas  should  have  a  minimum  of  7  Postmen's beats.

## 3. Norms for opening of Head Post Offices

Head Post Offices (HOs) are district level offices and the need/ justification for new HOs arises only occasionally. An HO is opened by conversion of a sub-post office into head post office or by bifurcation of an existing HO. The norms prescribed are:

- (i) Each district should have a head post office provided a minimum of 20 sub-post offices can be attached to it. In the case of backward areas or places where there will  be  a  definite  improvement  in  financing  sub-post  offices/  GDS  post  offices, lower standard may be adopted, subject to the approval of the Postal Directorate.
- (ii) If there is no HO in a district, opening of HO can be considered, if at least 20 SOs in  the  same  district  can  be  attached  with  advantage,  to  the  proposed  HO irrespective of the fact whether parent HO has 60 SOs or not. It has, however, to be ensured that such upgradation does not bring the number of SOs in account with residuary HO below 20.
- (iii) An existing HO should be bifurcated, if the number of sub-offices attached to it exceeds 60. It should however, be ensured that as a result of the change neither the new nor old HO has less than 20 sub-offices attached to it.

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