PROJECT ARROW-----SUCCESS SAYS MINISTER

Under the fourth phase of Project Arrow, modernization of 727 Post Offices across the country is proposed to be taken up during the next financial year. This was disclosed by Sh. Sachin Pilot, the Minister of State for Communication and Information Technology in a Press Conference here today while presenting review of performance of the ‘Project Arrow’ in the year gone by. Speaking of encouraging trends the Minister said that “Project Arrow” has been a success and is enabling Post Offices to play a larger role in the social and economic transformation of the country by taking up new roles and challenges. During the quarter October-November, 2009, monitoring of Post Offices modernized under the Project has revealed increased volume of business and a 23% increase in Revenue in these Post Offices, he added. During three Phases of the Project 1000 Post Offices have been transformed so far at the cost of about Rs.152 crores. These post offices are now offering many e-enabled services like electronic money orders, instant money orders, and computerized savings accounts and are backed by automated back-office operations.







Replying to a question about stagnant prices of postal articles and services over the decades, the Minister said instead of criticism, it is a matter of satisfaction for the Department to serve ‘Aam Aadmi’ by maintaining the low prices. In response to another question about lack of infrastructure in Post Offices of rural areas, the Minister assured that things are changing in a phased manner and computerization of post offices on a large scale is being taken up and time is not far when well equipped Post Offices will serve the rural population in remote areas with a much larger and diverse bouquet of services.



SOURCE;PIB