Lok Sabha Question No. 1387 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: National Postal Week
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: P.R. SUNDARAM, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1387 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 TH      DECEMBER, 2017

## NATIONAL POSTAL WEEK

1387.   SHRI P.R. SUNDARAM: DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN: DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT: SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK: SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has observed National Postal Week from 9th to 15th October, 2017;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the aims and objectives thereof;
- (c) the initiative taken by the Government to make the Postal Week a successful event;
- (d) whether the Government has taken note of the decline in investment in different postal schemes  launched  by  the  Government  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  reaction  of  the Government thereto; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to improve the level of investments in such schemes and boost the income of Postal Department?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Yes, Madam
- (b) India  Post  celebrates  the  National  Postal  Week  from  9th  to  15th  October  every  year, starting with World Post Day which is celebrated each year on 9th October on the occasion of the  anniversary  of  the  establishment  of  the  Universal  Postal  Union  (UPU)  in  1874  in  Berne (Switzerland). The purpose of World Post Day is to bring awareness to the post's role in the everyday  lives  of  people  and  businesses,  as  well  as  its  contribution  to  social  and  economic development.

In keeping with World Postal Day celebrations, Department of Posts celebrates National Postal week undertaking programmes and activities aimed at generating a broader awareness of its role and activities among the public and media on a national scale. Week long activities are held during this period across the country.

(c)    Six days of the National Postal Week were designated as specific days related to various postal activities viz Banking Day, Postal Life Insurance Day, Philately Day, Business Development Day and Mail Day including World Post Day which is celebrated on the first day of the  National  Postal Week.  Department of Posts takes extensive awareness and engagement programmes  to  make  it  successful.  During  the  National  Postal  Week,  a  number  of  activities including road shows, visits of school children to various postal facilities, contacting current and potential  corporate  customers,  Savings  Bank  camps,  Postal  Life  Insurance  /Rural  Postal  Life Insurance camps, Philately camps, sprucing up and cleaning of Post Offices, mail offices and administrative offices etc. were organized.

During the National Postal Week this year, a new service i.e. Electronic-Indian Postal Order (eIPO)  Service  of  denomination  of  Rs.  10,  Rs.  20,  Rs.  50  and  Rs.  100  was  launched  on  9 th October,  2017  by  the  Minister  of  State  for  Communications,  as  a  Pilot  in  Bihar,  Delhi  and Karnataka Circles. International Tracked Packet service was also launched on World Post Day.

In  addition,  under  Postal  Life  Insurance,  the  clientele  base  of  Postal  Life  Insurance  was expanded  to  include  professionals  such  as  doctors,  engineers,  management  consultants, bankers etc. and also employees of listed companies.  Sampoorna Bima Gram Yojna was also lunched.

(d) There has  been no decline in investment by public in postal schemes launched by the government as shown in details in Annexure.

(e) The following steps have been taken by the Department of Posts to improve the level of investment in the Post Office Saving Bank & Insurance Schemes and boost the income of the Department:-

-  Organizing  Seminars/Melas/Road  Shows  to  open  new  accounts  and  also  getting investments in Post Office Cash Certificates.
-  Targeting the poor people for opening of Savings Account with Rs.20/-.
-  Fixing  targets for every unit for opening of new accounts.
-  Pursuing depositors having RD and MIS accounts to open Savings Accounts and give Standing  Instructions  for  transfer  of  monthly  instalment/interest  automatically  from/to their Savings Account.
-  Expansion  of  clientele base  of Postal Life  Insurance  to Professionals and  also employees of listed companies.
-  Launch of Sampoorna Bima Gram Yojna.
-  Bringing the Saansad Adarsh Grams adopted by Hon'ble Members of Parliament under the ambit of Sampoorna Bima Gram Yojana.

Department  of  Posts  reviews  its  services  and  products  from  time  to  time  in  view  of  the changing  market  scenario,  changing  customer  needs,  industry  benchmarks  etc  and  takes steps/action to modify service features and/ or introduce new services accordingly to improve the  service  level  and  offer  efficient  services  to  meet  the  customer's  demands  and thereby  to increase the revenue.

| Year    |   Deposits in Postal Savings Schemes (Rs. in crores) |   Postal Life Insurance Premium collected (Rs. in crores) |   Rural Postal Life Insurance Premium collected (Rs. in crores) |
|---------|------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2015-16 |                                               368.31 |                                                      6657 |                                                            2012 |
| 2016-17 |                                               427.36 |                                                      7234 |                                                            2120 |

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