A post-Budget webinar on “Leaving No Citizen Behind” was organised by the Union Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj recently. Budget announcements related to bringing 100 per cent post offices on core banking system and interoperable post office accounts and its impact on the lives of rural poor especially women was discussed during the webinar.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the inaugural session of the webinar. The session on “Anytime Anywhere Banking Services and Interoperable Services through India Post” under “Assuring all rural poor especially women access to livelihood options and access to financial services” was chaired by Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Shri Giriraj Singh.

The session saw the participation of experts from NITI Aayog and other agencies, and by a large section of people and stakeholders associated with post office schemes from different parts of the country. Wide range of discussion took place on implementation strategy to ensure 100 per cent core banking system along with deployment of interoperable service for post office accounts.

Shri Vineet Pandey, Secretary (Posts) addressed the webinar and informed that free delivery of banking services will be provided at the doorsteps of the public through Micro ATM devices handled by Postmen and Gramin Dak Sevaks.

Shri Ajit Pai, Distinguished Expert from NITI Aayog, stressed that the post offices can play a significant role in the area of credit, financial literacy and overall achievement of financial inclusion.

The Department of Posts expects more customers to open new postal savings bank accounts at post offices once the interoperability of postal and bank accounts is made possible.

 

As far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, Tamil Nadu Postal Circle serves both Tamil Nadu State and Puducherry UT and comprises four Regions viz. Chennai City, Central, Western and Southern Regions. Among these, Chennai City Region is one of the major regions which covers the postal divisions in the northern part of Tamil Nadu with headquarters at Chennai.

All the 2189 post offices in Chennai City Region are connected with 100% CBS. Out of the 2189 Post Offices, 1784 Post Offices are in rural areas and 405 Post Offices are in urban areas.

The Department is already providing internet banking, mobile banking and ATM facilities for postal customers. There has been an increasing trend in opening of postal savings accounts. There are around 67 lakh Postal Savings Scheme accounts opened in Chennai City Region. Out of this, 7.75 lakh accounts are Sukanya Samriddhi Account (Selvamagal Semippu Thittam). During this fiscal year, around 4.5 lakh accounts have been opened till January 2022.

It is expected that the Postal Department, which is actively implementing many savings schemes, will attract more members of the public to use Post Office banking services.

The Union budget 2022 of India had been announced with new plans and the announcement on ‘Anytime-Anywhere post office savings’ that aims to cover all the Post Offices in the country under Core Banking System which helps to access Savings Accounts through internet banking, mobile banking and ATMs.

This is also set to provide online transfer of funds between postal and bank accounts and will enable financial inclusion. This will be helpful, especially for farmers and senior citizens in rural areas, enabling interoperability and financial inclusion.

The above details are stated in a press release issued by the Office of Postmaster General, Chennai City Region.

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