Chidambaram launches National Savings Institute website

New Delhi, May 30 (UNI) Finance Minister P Chidambaram today launched a website of the National Savings Institute (NSI) that will provide information about the various small savings schemes of the government and an online mechanism for redressal of complaints and queries.

The bilingual website, nsiindia.gov.in, also provides the facility of downloading commonly used forms by depositors.

''The NSI will take maximum 14 days to redress a complaint by following up with different agencies concerned. If it is unable to do so, then it will give an interim reply, accessed through e-mail or online,'' Ms L M Vas, Joint Secretary (Budget), Finance Ministry, said after the launch.

A user can track the status of his query or complaint with a unique auto-generated code number.

The NSI's regional office will ensure settlement of query or complaint through an interface with the state government, post office or the bank and respond through electronic mail or post as indicated by the user.

''To begin with, such a mechanism will be launched with the banks which have the requisite infrastructure,''Ms Vas said.

Queries and complaints received by the NSI and its regional offices other than through the website can be transferred to the online system for tracking and monitoring by the Institute.

''We will also try to ensure that similar complaints are not repeated.'' she said.

She said officials from Vietnam had evinced keen interest in the website and would come to India to study how the Institute worked with various agencies in redressing the complaints.

The website will also provide information about the extension agency system for mobilising deposits under various small savings schemes of the government, besides services offered by the NSI and its regional offices.

UNI YJ/GS SBJ VV1749