Rajya Sabha Question : Improvement in efficiency of postal services

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

RAJYA SABHA

QUESTION NO. 684

ANSWERED ON  28.11.2014

Improvement in efficiency of postal services

684  Shri A.U. Singh Deo

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state :-

(a) whether Government has proposed plans to improve efficiency of postal services, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether Government is planning any Public Private Partnership model in postal services, if so, the details thereof;

(c) if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether there is any proposal to raise employment in postal services for rural areas, if so, the details thereof; and

(e) if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) Yes, Sir.

Performance of Post Offices is monitored on selected Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) on Mails, Savings Bank and Money Orders through a web based mechanism.

The Government has undertaken the following steps to improve efficiency of Postal Services by:

(i) Introduction of a Mail Network Optimization Project (MNOP), for consolidation and optimization of operational network.

(ii) Process redesigning at Speed Post Hubs and Intra Circle Hubs.

(iii) Strengthening of end –to-end online tracking system, resulting in increase in online tracking.

 (iv) Regular performance review of all Postal Circles.

(b) & (c) No Sir.

(d) & (e) There is no new proposal to raise fresh employment in postal services for Branch Post Offices situated in rural areas. In fact, whenever any vacancy arises in any Departmental cadre, irrespective of its location in rural area or urban area, the same is filled up as per the provisions of the Recruitment rules of that particular cadre. Till filling up of vacancy, the work of the post is managed by redistribution/combination of duties and temporary attachment of personnel from other Post offices etc.

There are sufficient numbers of sanctioned posts of Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) employees in rural areas. In addition, the Department has recently directed for expeditious filling up of all vacant posts of Gramin Dak Sevak Branch Postmasters.