Field Postal Order for Defence Personnel Launched

New Delhi, Mar 16 (UNI) Seeking to ease home-related stresses of Service personnel posted in forward areas, the Army Postal Service (APS) today launched a new facility for money-remittance by them to their families in the form of 'Field Postal Orders'.

This convenient, safe and economical remittance facility -- meant exclusively for defence personnel -- was formally launched with the handing over of a Field Postal Order to Lt Gen Sudhir Sharma, Quartermaster General and Colonel Commandant of the Army Postal Service by Mr IMG Khan -- Secretary, Department of Posts -- at a simple ceremony held at the 1 Central Base Post Office at Delhi Cantonment.

The Field Postal Order -- available through Field Post Offices only -- in six denominations namely Rs 2,000, Rs 3,000, Rs 5,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000 -- with commission charges varying between Rs 30 and Rs 90 -- can be encashed at any civil or Army Post Office in India.

The new measure effectively addresses a longfelt genuine need of Defence personnel.

With banking facilities not widely available in the Field/Counter -Insurgency Operations areas, getting bank drafts made proved to be a time-consuming and costly process for the troops. Consequntly, there was a need for a convenient and cost-effective facility for remittance of money to their families.

Speaking on the occasion, the Secretary -- Department of Posts highlighted the salient features of the service and exhorted the Defence personnel to make full use of this unique facility.

The Quartermaster General, while commending the Army Postal Service for taking the initiative in introducing this service, said this facility would mitigate the hardships presently being faced by the Defence personnel in remitting money to their kith and kin.

A large gathering of service officers of the Integrated Headquarters of the Defence Ministry and Head Quarter Delhi Area were present on the occasion -- which highlighted yet another example of the Army Postal Service's committment to providing a wide range of communication, financial and logistic services to the troops and units.

UNI