The West Bengal circle of India Post is going to offer facelift to its parcel packaging system. The chief postmaster general (CPMG), West Bengal circle, J. Charukesi indicated the same on October 10.
In a media conference to highlight the celebration of the National Postal Week from October 9 to October 13, Charukesi said instead of age-old cloth packaging, India Post, West Bengal circle would shortly introduce simple corrugated wrapping, plain standard polythene wrap packaging and bubble wrapping at post offices with good footfall such as Burrabazar, General Post Office, Park Street and Howrah. In future, the system would be extended to 43 other post offices under the West Bengal circle, the CPMG added.
While deliberating on the activities chalked out to observe the National Postal Week, Charukesi said as part of the initiative taken up during Durga Puja to promote letter writing, around 10,000 creatively designed postcards were distributed at Chetla Agrani and Suruchi Sangha Durga Puja pandals in south Kolkata. The last date of online submission is October 15. All such letters will be tagged to Facebook, she said.
Moreover, India Post West Bengal circle plans to launch the ‘Know Your Postman App’ for booking of retail parcels from home and through online methods, where the postman is going to reach the doorstep of the parcel-booker.
Charukesi also spoke on India Post West Bengal circle’s efforts to offer general insurance to the marginalised sections of the society with up to Rs 10 lakh cover on an annual premium of Rs 256 to Rs 399 from the part of India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), for which, the organisation has tied up with Bajaj and TATA AIG.
Charukesi also briefed activities like Swacchata Abhiyan is being carried out across all post offices as a part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav also.
Various programmes and activities aimed at generating broader awareness about the role and services of post offices have also been planned during the week. She said on the occasion of observation of Philately Day on October 13, release of special covers, quiz competitions, seminars and workshops have been planned to engage with youngsters and enthuse them to take up philately as a hobby and also to inform them about Deen Dayal Sparsh Scholarship, Dhai Akshar Competition.
Each circle would focus on special covers with the theme ‘One District One Product’ (ODOP) to promote PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme launched by the ministry of food processing industries under the banner of Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
Two special covers on the ODOP theme — Ginger Based Products and Bakery Snack Confectionary products will be released at Gangtok.
A special cover on Marine and Fish Products of South Andaman was also released at Port Blair on October 5 in this connection.
Two special covers on Unsung Heroes — Pritilata Waddedar and Dhrubesh Charan Chatterjee — will also be released at Kolkata’s Yogayog Bhavan on October 11.
Charukesi said: “October 13 will be observed as Antodaya Diwas. A seminar will be organised on the topic ‘Upliftment of poor, marginalised and backward sections of the society and Role of the Postal Department’. This will be an interactive session with senior officers from the state government.”
Awareness camps will be organised on social security schemes such as direct benefit transfer, social security pensions, Jan Suraksha schemes, Sukanya Samriddhi accounts, AePs and other savings services of the post office. Financial literacy camps to adopt safety measures while doing digital transactions to avoid frauds shall be organized in rural, remote and under developed areas.
