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Post Offices to Provide Visa Related Services In Remote Areas

India Post Signs MOU with M/S VFS Global to this Effect India Post has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with M/s VFS Global to provide visa related services for different countries through Post Offices. Memorandum of Understanding between India Post and M/s VFS Global was signed here on 30.08.2011 in the presence of Secretary, Department of Posts and senior officers from Department of Posts and VFS Global. The MOU sets out broad understandings and intentions of both the parties to provide visa related services at places where they are not currently available.

Post Office counters will be used for fee collections, providing visa applications forms, dissemination of visa information, biometric enrollment and other visa application process related services. India Post and VFS are also planning to cooperate in utilizing India Post’s courier service, Speed Post for movements of passports to VFS offices and concerned embassies, and their delivery back to the applicants. Both the parties will also explore to provide any other service that India Post may want to provide through VFS global network on mutually accepted terms.

M/s VFS Global is in the business of visa application services and is working with 35 governments across the world with over 450 offices in 50 countries. India Post and VFS realize that there are many areas of mutual interest and synergy between India Post and VFS would benefit the public at large.

Measures to Popularize Small Saving Schemes

Central and State Governments take various measures from time to time to promote and popularize small saving schemes through print and electronic media as well as holding seminars, meetings and providing training to the various agencies involved in mobilising deposits under these schemes.

A website of the National Savings Institute under Government on India, Ministry of Finance has also been launched to facilitate interface with the public through wider investors grievances. The website address is nsiindia.gov.in.

The Committee on National Small Savings Fund has observed that 4% commission under Mahila Pradhan Kshetriya Bachat Yojna (MPKBY) is very high and is affecting the viability of National Small Savings Fund (NSSF). The committee has recognized that the Recurring Deposit Scheme requires considerable effort on part of agents in mobilising monthly deposits. However, 4% commission is distortionary and expensive. The Committee has recommended that it should be brought down to 1% in a phased manner in a period of three years with a 1% reduction every year.

Recommendations of the committee have been referred to State Governments and concerned Ministries/Departments of Central Government for their comments.

Over Ninety Percent Departmental Post Offices Computerised

Shri Sachin Pilot, the Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology informed Rajya Sabha today in written reply to a question that 24015 (94 per cent) Departmental Post Offices out of 25538 Departmental Post Offices have been supplied with computer hardware. Remaining Departmental Post Offices along with Branch Post Offices will be computerized under the Department’s IT Modernisation Project 2012 to be completed by 2012-13 subject to availability of funds and resources.

The reply further stated that there is no project proposal of the State Government of Madhya Pradesh pending before the Ministry for computerization of Post Offices.