LoC villages to be covered by postal services

For the first time since 1947, department of posts has decided to cover areas along LoC in Kashmir valley for its services. Till now, such services were uavailable to the people living there putting them to inconvenience.

 Revealing this at a press conference here, chief post master John Samuel said in this financial year areas near LoC and other far flung areas would be connected with the postal services. The chief post master said  the initiative will help the people in these areas as no banking and other saving facilities is yet to be available to people.

 John Samuel also said that it will increase the share of saving in the posts office. He also said that there has been 21 percent growth in post office savings bank business as compared to the last financial year.

 He said, “This is an indication that department of posts is on its path to recovery.  I  thank the people of J&K for their overwhelming support to the postal services.  Department has also set a target of 25 percent growth during the current financial year.”

 The chief post master said that the department of posts has revised the interest rates of various savings bank schemes with immediate effect.  He said with this revision, the schemes under post office savings bank have become very attractive to the people and a large number of people are coming to the post office to open new accounts.

 Samuel said that department of posts with network of 15,000 post offices is the largest retail Bank in India.  Considering its trust and network, the people are investing in various schemes of post offices

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 From the current financial year, interest from post office Savings Bank Account upto Rs.10000 has been exempted from Income Tax.  This is a major benefit to the Post Office customers.  Taking into this account, the Post Office Savings Bank Schemes have become attractive to the common man.

 With computerization, the payment of interest to the customers has been made very easy.  Samuel informed that the interest for 2011-12 has already been credited to the Accounts of all the customers by 1st April, 2012.  This makes the Post Office savings account very convenient to the people.

 He said the senior Citizen Saving’s scheme has become the most attractive scheme offered by the Post Office.  It gives an interest rate of 9.3 percent per annum. “Citizen can invest upto Rs.15 lacs for a period of 5 years and the interest under this scheme is also eligible for tax concession under Section 80C of Income Tax Act.   Samuel said that people of 60 years and above are eligible to open the account under Senior Citizen Scheme.  Maturity period is five years.  Premature closure is allowed after one year.  A depositor may operate more than one account in individual capacity or jointly with spouse.  Account can be transferred from one post office to another.  Any number of accounts can be opened in any post office subject to maximum investment limit of Rs. 15 lakhs,” he said.

 He also said that another attractive scheme is Public Provident Fund scheme which offers interest of 8.8 percent  Deposits qualify for deduction from income under Sec. 80C of IT Act.  The main attraction is that the interest is completely tax-free.  Withdrawal is permissible every year from 7th financial year and the Loan facility is available from 3rd financial year. In addition, the Department has also various attractive schemes like Time Deposit, Recurring Deposit, Amount Fixed Deposit and Savings Bank Account to cater to the needs of various customers.

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Postmasters Conference in Jammu

Department of Posts today held Postmasters conference at Zorawar Singh Auditorium of Jammu University.

During the conference an interactive session was held with Postmasters of Jammu division with Chief Postmaster General to ascertain the ground level situation. Faculty of the Business School of Jammu University gave discourse on Customer Relation, Commission and Business Verification.

The function was presided over by John Samuel, Chief Postmaster General, J&K. In his inaugural address he stated that post office was a unique infrastructure and it is going all out to built its customer relations. He advised participants that they should interact with customers with positive frame of mind, so that a customer after visiting a post office is fully satisfied from its services. He also informed that in order to bind with the public, Department has launched "I Love My Post Office" campaign. During the campaign, members of civil society will be invited to visit to neighbourhood post office for a bounding which is far reaching and permanent.

Amit Sharma, Director Postal Services addressed gathering on the theme "Post Office Touching the Life". He emphasized role of Postmasters and their obligations towards society.

Presidential address of John Samuel was followed by an interactive session of participants with panel of faculty members who imparted training to the Postmasters. Prof. Neelu Rohmetra, Director Business School Jammu University, Dr. Anil Gupta and Dr. Komal Nagar imparted the training. Faculty members felt that time was right for department for effecting a change by team work and better customers relation.

Prof. Neelu Rohmetra exhorted the participants to have a vision of post office and a clear direction of its main objectives to be achieved. She also stated that front desk services were interaction points with the general public and they will have to change first.

Minister for Medical Education, Technical Education, Youth Services and Sports R.S Chib presented awards to outstanding postal employees

AK Bhasin, SPM Jammu Cantt, Asha Sharma, SPM Lakhanpur and Chandan Singh, SPM Gangyal were felicitated on the occasion.

Services of Jang Bahadur, Postman Vinaik Bazar, Bahadur Singh, Postman Gandhinagar, Ved Prakash , Postman Jammu Tawi and Harbans Lal, Postman Gandhinagar were recognized for their outstanding services. They were presented mementos.

Employees who had procured business in PLI and RPLI were also awarded. For PLI Daleep Kumar Gumbal. PA Circle Office, Jammu got the first position while Chand Kumar, SDI Akhnoor stood second and VK Mehara, APM Jammu Tawi stood third.

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Postage stamp on 100 years of Civil Aviation released

To mark the hundred years of Civil Aviation, Department of Posts has brought out a commemorate stamp today.

The stamp was released in a special function at Jammu Airport today by State Chief General Post Master, John Samuel.

Director Jammu Airport was the guest of honour on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Samuel said Civil Aviation in India has been the success story of last 100 years adding that Philately has been closely associated with Civil Aviation, since the introduction of Airmail and aero philately.

He said aero philately has become one of the favourite areas of philately.

He also announced that a special stamp exhibition on airmail and Civil Aviation will be held in Srinagar in April 2012. The exhibition will display stamps on Aircrafts and Airmail across the world.

The new stamps on Civil Aviation will be available for the public at Gandhi Nagar Philately Bureau.

Director, State Airport Authority, M Suresh and Superintendent, Post Offices Jammu also spoke on the occasion. Besides, officers from all airlines, CRPF and police posted at the airport were also present. 

Meanwhile Samuel dedicated a fully computerized and modernized post office established at Airport to provide art facilities to the passengers and members of airport authority and security personnel deployed there, which will also provide speed post services to the people.

Samuel apprised the gathering that all departmental post offices have been taken for computerization during the present financial year.

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I Love My Post Office

Governor launches "I Love My Post Office" campaign

Governor N N Vohra launched a month long "I Love My Post Office" campaign at a function organized by the Jammu and Kashmir Postal Circle at Raj Bhawan here this evening.

This campaign has been launched with a view to bring Post Office close to the customers, make the customers increasingly aware about all the products and services of the Post Office and besides, the postal business.

Usha Vohra, First Lady, was present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, the Governor emphasized the need for restoring the past glory of the Post Office by bringing progressive improvements in the delivery of postal services, particularly in the remote and far-flung areas of the State, for the larger benefit of the rural population. He said that with the coming into being of faster modes of communication the Post Office had lost some of its sheen, adding that this calls for introducing an element of automation to ensure that letters reach their destinations within the shortest possible time, even in the remote areas.

Referring to the various initiatives being taken by the Postal Department, the Governor lauded the scheme introduced for sending apple and other fruit parcels from the State to anywhere within and outside the country. He said that such a facility is extremely useful for a State like Jammu and Kashmir from where people like to send fruit parcels to their relations and friends.

The Governor emphasized the need for enlarging awareness among the people about writing Pin Code Number on the letters and suggested the Department to bring out a Directory listing these numbers for the benefit of the customers. He also suggested bringing further improvements in the stamping system so that the place of origin of the letter and its date is clearly visible on it.

The Governor launched "I Love My Post Office" campaign by opening his Post Office Saving Bank Account on the occasion. The children released balloons to mark the commencement of the campaign.

The Governor and the First Lady interacted with students of Dream Land Public School and Shangrila Public School present on the occasion and appreciated the cultural programme presented by them. The Governor announced ` 21,000 each to both these schools.

The Governor and the First Lady were honoured on this occasion, with John Samuel, Chief Postmaster General, J&K Circle, and Mrs. Samuel, presenting to them mementos.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Samuel said that "I Love My Post Office" campaign is being launched for the first time in the country from Jammu today which would be subsequently followed in other States. He added that five new Post Offices would be opened in the State this year. He stated that the Speed Post facility would be introduced in several other Post Offices to benefit the people, particularly in the rural areas and computers would be provided for the purpose.

In his welcome address, Amit Sharma, Director Postal Services, J&K Circle, spoke about the aims and objects of "I Love My Post Office" campaign.

R. L Bhardwaj, Senior Superintendent of Post Offices, Jammu Division, presented a vote of thanks.

Navin Kumar Choudhary, Principal Secretary to the Governor, senior officers and staff members of the Postal Department, teachers and students were present on the occasion.

Jk News March 2011

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