Postal dept to be armed with high-tech devices: Prasad

In a move aimed at face-lifting the postal department, the Telecom Ministry, headed by Ravi Shankar Prasad, has announced providing solar-powered biometric hand-held devices to Gramin Dak Sewaks. The scheme will first be introduced in three postal circles – Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan — as a pilot project and after its success, it will rolled out across the country.

“These devices will help in booking and delivery of speed post, registered mail, money orders, sale of stamps and postal stationary. A paper receipt would also be generated instantaneously thereby eliminating chances of overcharging and other problems associated with manual transactions,” said Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad while inaugurating good governance week on Monday.

Prasad further added that savings bank deposits and withdrawals, postal life insurance premium deposits and loan/claim payments would also be done electronically with the help of these devices.