As many as 2,396 post offices in rural areas of the southern region would soon be covered under Information and Communication Technology (ICT) project under a modernisation scheme of the Department of posts, said J. Charukesi, Postmaster General, Southern Region, here on Sunday.
Speaking about the ‘Digital India’ initiatives undertaken by the department during a talk organised by Madurai Management Association, Ms. Charukesi said that under the project, rural post offices would be equipped with bar code scanners, smart cards, biometric authentication and solar-powered panels to power the offices. “The department is undergoing a total digital transformation and we want the benefits to reach even the hinterland the reason why the focus is on post offices in rural areas. In the southern region, all the 29 Head Post Offices and 722 sub-post offices have been computerised,” she said. The southern region comprises of nine southern districts and 11 postal divisions.
Elaborating on its core banking facilities, Ms. Charukesi said that the southern region was in the forefront of implementing Finnacle core banking software. “We have also opened ATMs in Karaikudi, Dindigul and Palani and 26 more will be opened across the southern districts. While the minimum withdrawal limit was fixed at Rs. 500, it has been revised to Rs. 50 so as to benefit more number of people,” she said.
Among other digital initiatives, Ms. Charukesi threw light on postal life insurance scheme for which premium payments could be made online.
