Postal network can be used for other services
India’s vast postal network can be utilised for providing various facilities including microfinance, banking and information-based services to the masses. The Department of Posts also needs to gear itself to strengthen its global network to meet challenges posed by its competitors, said Communications and Information Technology Minister A. Raja.
Delivering his inaugural speech at the five-day executive council meeting of the Asian Pacific Postal Union (APPU), Mr. Raja said over 150,000 post offices spread across India can use newer technologies for providing microfinance services, set up e-knowledge centres and extend banking facilities, specially in rural areas.
Stressing the need for transforming the postal services to meet future challenges and prepare them to compete in the new environment of globalisation, Mr. Raja said the need of the hour was that the managers should learn and develop strategies to adapt the postal services to the changed situation. “The postal workforce will need to become skilled and well informed. Human resource development will become the key to the success of India Postal managers will need to innovate, encourage participation and lead change,” he said.
“We need to build a global postal network accessible to all which integrates the physical, electronic and financial dimensions of the service. Postal administrations will also need to find a mechanism which results in a win-win situation for all the participating administrations. They will have to assure quality services within their country and across the borders as per the needs of their customers,” the Minister said.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology Shakeel Ahmad said the postal network in the Asia Pacific region comprises 342,002 permanent post offices, which is 51 per cent of the total number of post offices worldwide.
However, it is manned by 1,715,000 postal employees, which is 31 per cent of the worldwide postal staff.
Dr. Ahmed said the meet will help participants to exchange views and discuss matters of mutual interest so as to strengthen cooperation amongst postal administrations and postal service providers in the Asia-Pacific region.
