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The Department of Posts in India, commonly referred to as India Post, recently began the national celebration of Postal Week. Commencing with World Post Day on October 9th, this week aims to deepen public understanding of the vital role carried out by India Post.
National Postal Week
Running from October 9th to 15th every year, National Postal Week generates public awareness about the activities and responsibilities of India Post. The media also play a key role in disseminating information regarding this agency’s contributions at the national level. For 2021, the Postal Week observances will include customer recognition events, workshops and camps focused on Philately (the collection and study of postage stamps), the opening of new accounts, and online awareness campaigns.
The Promotion of Philately
Underlining the significance of postage stamps and postal history, the Ministry of Communications launched the Deen Dayal SPARSH (Scholarship for Promotion of Aptitude & Research in Stamps as a Hobby) Yojana in 2018. This initiative awards scholarships to school children to cultivate their interest in Philately.
World Post Day
World Post Day is celebrated annually on October 9th in remembrance of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in 1874 in Berne, Switzerland. During the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan, in 1969, this day was officially designated as World Post Day. The purpose of this day is to highlight the essential role of postal services in our lives and businesses, as well as its contribution to the nation’s socio-economic development.
About the Universal Postal Union
The UPU is a subsidiary of the United Nations that oversees postal policies among its member nations and manages the global postal systems. Its headquarters are based in Berne, Switzerland.
The Role and Functions of India Post
India Post, officially the Department of Posts (DoP), operates under the aegis of the Ministry of Communications. With an expansive network of 155,531 post offices, it boasts the most extensive postal distribution in the world. The department’s key functions encompass mail delivery, accepting deposits under Small Savings Schemes, offering life insurance coverage under Postal Life Insurance (PLI) and Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI), and providing retail services like bill collection and form sales. India Post also acts on behalf of the Indian government in delivering other citizen-centric services like wage disbursal under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and providing pension payments.
The Significance of India Post During the Covid-19 Pandemic
The relevance of India Post increased during the difficult circumstances wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic. It ensured the delivery of medicines and monetary assistance to the public and played a crucial role in implementing government schemes using its extensive network. The safety and high returns offered by postal savings schemes make them an appealing option for the general public.
Recent Initiatives by India Post
Several key initiatives have been rolled out by the Department of Posts to bolster public awareness and access to postal services. For instance, a scheme dubbed “Five Star Villages” aims to bridge awareness gaps in rural areas. Additionally, on September 1st, 2018, the Prime Minister inaugurated the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) aimed at making banking services more accessible. A customized stamp was issued commemorating India’s first Anti Satellite Missile (A-SAT) launch on Engineers Day, which falls on September 15th each year.