To leverage the assets of postal
network, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi today said post offices in rural areas can be used to deliver
various services and information to the individual households.
He also said the postal network can become a
driving force for the economy, similar to the Indian Railways, and the huge
assets held by the Postal department across the country can be suitably used
for the benefit of the people, he said.
Modi, speaking after the presentation of a
report by the task force on leveraging India's post office network, said post
offices in rural areas can be used to deliver services and important government
information to individual households.
Modi has directed that recommendations of the
task force be studied in detail within a short period of time, so that
necessary follow-up action can be initiated, an official statement said.
Minister for Communication and IT Ravi Shankar
Prasad was also present. The presentation on behalf of the task force was given
by its Chairman, TSR Subramanian.
Modi said, postman along with the teacher, is
the most respected government employee in rural areas.
Modi had set up the Task Force last year to
leverage the postal network in India and to enhance the role of India Post in
financial inclusion, among other services like delivery of goods for eCommerce
firms.
In December last year, the Task Force had
submitted its report to Prasad. It noted that with its Rs 6 lakh crore in
deposits, India Post is second only to the country's largest bank SBI.
The report suggested that the government
should set up a holding company under the Department of Posts for immediate roll out of banking,
insurance and e-commerce services by the 1.55 lakh strong postal network.
The holding company should have five different
verticals, and three of them -- banking, insurance and e-commerce -- can start
working immediately.
It added that e-commerce could be the second
largest activity after banking that DoP can foray into for emerging as one of
biggest players in the world.
The panel also suggested establishing Post Bank of India as a separate entity with a branch
in each district in the first three years with initial capital of Rs 500 crore
to be funded by the government.
Post Bank of India and Prime Minister's Jan
Dhan Yojana can compliment each other for financial inclusion,
Subramanian said.
Source:-The Economic Times
