Govt
plans to use India Post's postmen to
educate people on schemes and policy - NEWS
educate people on schemes and policy - NEWS
New Delhi: The
government is planning to use India Post's 1.55 lakh-strong branch network to
reach out to citizens in far flung and backward areas and educate them about
the various policies, schemes and incentives.
The ministry of
information and broadcasting runs various awareness programmes for the citizens
leveraging the Internet and the social media.
However, these
initiatives are still out of the reach of many who live in backward and far
flung areas there is no connectivity, sources said.
"This category of
population is sizable and within the reach of post offices. I&B ministry
can design programmes region-wise, which can then be used by the postman to go
to these areas and educate the people," a source said.
The idea is to utilise
the huge network of India Posts' post offices across the country, especially to
reach out to people in areas not connected with the Internet, and educate them
about the government's policies, schemes and incentives, the sources added.
With the world's
largest postal network, India Post has about 1.55 lakh post offices spread
across the country. On an average, a post office serves an area of 21.21 sq km
and a population of 7,175 people.
Besides, postman can
also be used for directly collecting feedback from the people in rural areas on
various policies and schemes, sources added.
"Also digital
boards and panels can be set up at the post offices across these areas to
educate people on not just schemes and policies, but also on issues related to
health and education," they said.
The Task Force set up
by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is already holding consultations in
this regard with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Modi has set up the
Task Force to leverage the postal network in India to enhance the role of India
Posts in financial inclusion, among other services and it is expected to submit
its report by year-end.
The Task Force
includes the Department of Posts Secretary Kavery Banerjee, Telecom Secretary
Rakesh Garg, Department of Electronics and IT Secretary R S Sharma, Rural
Development Secretary L C Goyal and former SEBI Chairman G N Bajpai.
Former Cabinet
Secretary TSR Subramanian is the Chairman of the Task Force.