Showing posts with label Pranab Mukherjee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pranab Mukherjee. Show all posts

Friday, February 3, 2012

Modernisation of Postal Department Of India In Pipeline

The postal department of India is performing many crucial functions. With the passage of time, the postal department of India also needs technological upgradation and modernisation initiatives. This is not a difficult task to achieve as the department of post is attached with the union ministry of communication and information technology (MCIT).

Realising the potential of a modern postal department, the union minister of MCIT Mr. Kapil Sibal has started the modernisation and upgradation process of postal department of India. We at Perry4Law and Perry4Law Techno Legal Base (PTLB) believe that there are many aspects of e-commerce, e-governance and banking that can be combined with the postal department of India.

In fact, the postal department of India has already applied to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for a banking licence. Mr. Kapil Sibal had written to the Finance Minister, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, to expedite the granting of the banking licence.

Further, a national postal policy targeting expansion and modernisation of the postal network would be announced during this year. Although the India government does not intend to issue licences to courier service companies yet it would make it mandatory for them to register.

The national postal policy of India aims at modernising postal services in India. The policy is expected to make the department of post adopt a more financially viable revenue model. It would also provide affordable services at all points in the country as part of its Universal Service Obligations of India.

There is a good scope of public private partnership (PPP) in this modernisation drive. For instance, various value added services can be provided through the PPP model. Similarly, PPP can also help the department of post in expanding its products and services range beyond the current core functions.

India currently has 1.55 lakh post offices, 95 per cent of which are situated in rural areas. With the use of information technology, urban areas can be provided better postal services. This is a good step in right direction and Perry4Law and PTLB welcomes the same.