New look post offices for rural areas

New Delhi, Aug 18 (UNI) Department of Posts has launched a series of fully upgraded and completely new look Post Offices in the services of the rural people.

Called ''Project Arrow'', the launch aims to re-vitalize the post office network and enable it to play a larger role in socio-economic transformation of the country. These new age Post Offices are meant to serve as a window to the world for the common man,- 'Aam Aadmi', by focusing on their needs.

Communications and IT Minister A Raja inaugurated Project Arrow in Post Offices at Perambalur and Geetha Mahal, Kallankurichi Road, Ariyalur in Tamil Nadu.

The Minister of State for Communications&IT, Shri Jyotiraditya M Scindia inaugurated the Project at Murar Head Post Office (Gwalior), Morena, Shivpuri, Guna and Ashok Nagar in Madhya Pradesh.

Under the project, the Department of Posts has identified 50 post offices in Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, North East, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand covering 10 Postal Circles. By the end of the current year, 500 such Post Offices will get operational in the country.

Strict adherence to the timelines is part of the strategy.

These post offices are being given a thorough makeover both in terms of ''physical look and feel'' and upgrading service delivery through IT enabled procedures.

Identity branding including a new logo and a new slogan, designing of exteriors and interiors, upgradation of computer hardware and software, improvement in delivery of services and upgradation in connectivity are the main features of the Project.

The post office in rural areas will henceforth be a single window facility for banking, money remittance, transmission and delivery of information. Besides providing traditional services in a modern, more efficient and technology-based mode, the post offices will also form an indispensable part of all social and civic initiatives such as National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and National Old Age Pension Scheme.

The stress is on creating a conducive and friendly work environment for both staff and customers.

Project Arrow has twin objectives: to transform India Posts into a vibrant and responsive organization and to make a visible and positive difference in postal operations to benefit the customers.

Nearly 89 per cent of the network of India Post is in rural areas. Project Arrow is expected to bring the rural populace in direct communication with the outside world and bring benefits of development to their doorsteps. The Project is being seen as a significant step towards realization of India Post's motto ''Dak Seva-Jan Seva.'' The Project will provide the necessary impetus to other post offices to ensure that the formidable network of the Department of Posts becomes a seamless technology-driven India-wide network. A Steering Committee and a Core Team have been put in place in the Ministry of Communications and IT to monitor the implementation of the Project at all stages.

UNI SN BST1816