Sanjay Singh / New Delhi
Minister of State for Communications (Independent Charge), Manoj Sinha today said India Post through its unmatched reach and trust was driving Digital Banking and government services to the doorstep across the country.
Speaking to media persons here on the occasion of World Post Day 2018, the minister informed that the nation-wide launch of 650 branches and 3250 access points of India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) by the Prime Minister last month, has now become a banker to millions of unbanked and under-banked Indians by the trusted Postman. The day also marks the creation of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in 1874.
भारतीय डाक अपनी बेमिसाल पहुंच और जनता के विश्वास के बल पर डिजिटल बैंकिंग और सेवाओं को नागरिकों के द्वार तक पहुंचा रहा है। pic.twitter.com/HPLxEBbC36
— Manoj Sinha (@manojsinha_) October 9, 2018
The minister also shared the details of the public outreach activities being undertaken by the Department of Posts (DoP) during the National Postal Week starting today. At least 12 lakh IPPB accounts have been opened so far, with a balance of more than Rs 13 crore and all the 1.55 lakh post offices in the country will be linked to the IPPB system by December 31 this year, the minister stated.
Further doling out statistics, Sinha said the postal department has set up and operationalized 221 Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and processed more than 15 lakh passport appointments so far.
Additionally, 13,352 Aadhar Enrolment and Updation Centres have been set up in partnership with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI),where more than 21 lakh enrolments and updates have been completed, he added.
“The benefits of the Postal Life Insurance (PLI) products have now been extended to doctors, engineers, management consultants, CAs, architects, teachers, lawyers and bankers, as well as employees of companies listed on the NSE and BSE. More than 1600 villages in the country have been covered under the Sampoorna Bima Gram (SBG) Yojana, providing financial security to more than two lakh families in these villages,” he explained.
Of the 1.46 crore Sukanya Samriddhi Accounts opened in the country so far, 1.27 crore accounts are with post offices. The Department has also launched creative initiatives such as the Deen Dayal Scholarship for Promotion of Aptitude and Research in Stamps as a Hobby (SPARSH), under which 841 students were awarded scholarships during the year 2017-18.