By Raju Vernekar
Mumbai, October 10:
While the National Postal Week (NPW) is being celebrated across the country, the yeomen’s services rendered by the Department of Posts(DOP) during lock down has come to the light with increasing demand for postal services.
When routine activities came down during corona virus induced long lock down, Indian Post Office silently helped pensioners and ensured that the pension amount of Rs 10,000 crore pension reached nearly 1.50 crore pensioners in the county.
Besides, post offices delivered 36,000 parcels of medicines to the patients. Also over one lakh mangoes were delivered through the “India Post Kisan Rath” to different Agriculture Price Marketing Committees (APMCs). In addition the post offices felicitated payment of Mobile phone, TV and electricity bills of public worth Rs 17 crore through “India Post Payment Bank”.
DOP commenced celebration of NPW on the occasion of the World Post Day on Friday. The MPW will be celebrated till October 15. The World Post Day is observed every year on October 9 to mark the anniversary of the establishment of Universal Postal Union in 1874 in Berne, the capital of Switzerland.
The Union Communications Ministry in a statement said that NPW aims at generating a broader awareness of its role and activities among the public and media on a national scale. Online campaign will be organised to create awareness about new offerings and availability of citizen centric services in Post Offices, it added.
In a press conference held in Mumbai, Chief Postmaster General, Maharashtra Circle H. C. Agrawal in a presentation highlighted the achievements of the Maharashtra Postal Circle. Postmaster General (Mails and BD) Ganesh Sawaleshwarkar, GM (Finance) Vijay Kumar, and Director Postal Services (HQ) Kaiya Arora, were also present.
As part of NPW, a number of programs have been organised. They include: 10 October – Banking Day, 12 October- PLI Day, 13 October -Philately Day, 14 October – Business Development Day, 15 October- Mails Day.
Banking Day: The Savings Bank Camps/Melas will be organised to ensure that maximum number of POSB/ India Post Payments Bank (IPPB Accounts are opened and general public is made aware about saving bank products of the Department. Further with the roll out of IPPB branches and access points, create awareness among public about the new facilities such as AEPS and to ensure that maximum accounts are opened.
Postal Life Insurance (PLI) Day: PLI Claim settlement will be given priority so that pendency in claim settlement is minimised, Philately Day: To organise events at the National Philatelic Museum during the NPW. Philately Division will also launch Philately merchandise (ties, scarves, bags, mugs etc based on stamp themes).
Business Development Day: Postal circles will interact with current and potential customers on BD Day. The program includes: to contact current and potential corporate customers. To organise virtual camps/workshops for philately, open SB/IPPB Accounts, Aadhaar seeding and get PLI/RPLI proposals.
Mail Day: The role of postmen will be highlighted keeping in mind the COVID-19 situation. Efforts will be made to use Postman Mobile Application (PMA) cent per cent so that delivery information is available and customer has no occasion to complain.
In another development on Friday, Goa Postal Division released a special cover and special cancellation on “180th Year of Establishment of Postal Services in Goa”, Permanent Pictorial Cancellation on “Basilica of Bom Jesus” and Maximum Card (1st Day Issue) on “Basilica of Bom Jesus” was unveiled at the hands of PMG Goa region Dr. N. Vinodkumar at a function held in Panaji. Dr. Sudhir G Jakhere, Sr Supdt. of Post offices, Dr. M. R. Ramesh Kumar, President and Aslesh Kamat, Secretary, Goa Philatelic and Numismatic Society [GPNS] respectively and other postal officials were present.
The special cover and special cancellation on “180th Year of Establishment of Postal Services in Goa”will be available in Copper Cancellation for sale at Panaji Head Post Office. The sale prize of the special cover is Rs.30/- each. The Permanent Pictorial Cancellation on “Basilica of Bom Jesus” will be provided at Velha Goa Post Office on all articles posted/booked from 9 October, onwards. The Maximum Card (1st Day Issue) on “Basilica of Bom Jesus” will also be available for sale price at Rs.180/- each at Panaji Head Post Office.
