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Lok Sabha
The Minister of State for Communications & Information Technology Dr. Shakeel Ahmad, has informed the Lok Sabha that the Government is proposing to formulate National Postal Policy and is currently engaged in the process of updating the provisions of the Indian Post Office Act to make it more relevant to the times and empower the Postal Services Board so that the department enjoys more functional autonomy. The Government has also recognised the need to clearly identify the Universal Service Obligation and the cost of fulfilling it, which, today, is included as a part of the Department's budgetary deficit/loss. A major exercise has been initiated to review the system in terms of structure, products, processes, resources, accounting and pricing structure, technology requirements, etc., and to identify how best the Department can meet the twin challenges of becoming commercially viable while continuing to fulfill the Universal Service Obligation.
Dr. Ahmed further said that the exercise to formulate the National Postal Policy is underway taking into account these initiatives and their outcomes. Since the exercise involves inter-departmental consultations and completion of the above initiatives, no specific time frame can be indicated at this juncture.
As regards the postal network in the remote/rural areas, the department is not lagging behind any private courier company, he said. India has the largest postal network in the world and 89% of it is in the rural area. Basic postal services in terms of daily delivery of dak, collection of letters and sales of stamps and stationery are being provided throughout the country through this network irrespective of terrain.
The market share of Speed Post is around 11% as per a projection made by Kurt Salmon & Associates in their report 'Market Survey on Express Market -- December, 2001'. However, market share of India Post is about 50% in the mail delivery market if all mail products are put together.
With a view to increase the share in the Express Market and further expansion of postal services in rural areas, Dr. Ahmad said that the Government has made a number of value additions, like free pick up facility, door to door delivery, internet-based track and trace, volume based discounts and credit facility have been provided over the years. The number of booking counters and offices with facility for booking upto late hours has been increased. Basic postal services in terms of daily delivery, collection of letters and sale of stamps and stationery are already available throughout the country. Post Offices will continue to be opened subject to fulfillment of distance, population and income norms.
The above information was given by Dr. Shakeel Ahmad, today in the Lok Sabha in a written reply to the question by Shri Kailash Meghwal.
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