BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Postal Circle is set to open 133 new branch post offices in 15 Left Wing Extremists affected districts during this financial year.
General Manager, Odisha Postal Circle, Santosh Kumar Kamila told news persons here that out of the proposed 133 branch post offices, 40 have already been opened and the rest 93 would be opened by March 20 next year.
World Post Day was celebrated at Post Master General’s Bhubaneswar office with a press conference and awards ceremony. Speaking on the occasion, Santosh Kamila, Chief Postmaster General of Odisha Circle, said, “Every year on October 9, World Post Day is celebrated. It started in Berne October 9, 1874.”
The purpose of this day is to create awareness of the role of Post sector and its contribution to the social and economic development of countries. Moving a step ahead, India Post celebrates National Postal Week undertaking programmes and activities aimed at generating a broader awareness of its role and activities among the public and media on a national scale.
It may be worth mentioning that during 2018-19, Odisha circle has received Champion Award for overall best performance amongst the circles in Y category of sates from the secretary, Department of Posts. Office assistant Sunita Priyadarshini Samantaray has been selected to receive Meghdoot award.
The General Manager said that so far, 40 branch post offices had already been opened in the Maoist affected districts of Sambalpur, Sundergarh and Bolangir.
The Minister of Home Affairs would provide around Rs 54,000 for opening of each post office, he said.
During the week long observance, road shows would be organised and publicity vans would move across the state to sensitise people about various services offered by the Department of Posts.
During the current financial year, under ‘Mera Abhiman Saksham Gram’ initiative, Odisha Circle became the top achiever in the country with the achievement of 753 villages as ‘Saksham Gram’ against the target of 66 villages.
He said the circle has registered a 10 per cent growth in speed post business last year compared to the previous year.