New agenda for Indian Postal Dept.
NEW DELHI, JAN. 30. The Department of Posts is examining ways to incorporate information technology into its operations to raise productivity and lower costs. It has entered into an alliance with La Poste of France and Emirates Post to develop India as a hub for delivery of parcels in the sub-continent.
The Minister of State for Communications, Tapan Sikdar, said the new agenda of the postal service will revolve round diversification involving not just communications but also logistics, financial services, information services etc. For this, a sound electronic network was required.
S.C. Mahalik, former Postal Secretary, said the agenda should be to reform the antiquated Post Office Act, abolish the Central Government’s monopoly, allow licensing of couriers and create a level playing field to encourage competition. Postal services should be corporatised but in the short run this should involve only the premium services.
The FICCI vice-president, Y.K. Modi, cited the changes in postal operations all over the world. The total volume of household mail has come down from 57 per cent in 1995 to 38 per cent in 2000. The volume of non-household mail has gone up from 43 to 62 per cent during the same period. Copyright 2002 Kasturi & Sons Ltd (KSL). Source: Financial Times Information Limited – Asia Intelligence Wire.
