Dehradun: On the occasion of National Postal Week, Chief Postmaster General of Uttarakhand, Shashi Shalini Kujur, shared several key developments of the state’s postal network, including a proposal to open 31 new post offices across villages this year. The announcement was made during a press briefing at the Postal Circle headquarters in Dehradun, highlighting the department’s growing role in digital and financial inclusion, women-focused savings, and citizen services.
Observed from October 6 to 10, National Postal Week is celebrating this year’s World Post Day under the theme “Local Service, Global Reach.” Kujur said that the initiative aims to increase awareness about the postal department’s role in people’s daily lives and its contribution to the nation’s socio-economic development. Various events, including technology and financial inclusion days, were organized during the week, along with a Postathon Walk Relay and a plantation drive under the initiative “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam.”
Under the Women’s Empowerment initiative, the Mahila Samman Savings Certificate Scheme—launched in April 2023—has seen significant participation, with 90,000 accounts opened in Uttarakhand so far. The scheme allows investments between ₹1,000 and ₹2 lakh for two years at a 7.5% interest rate. Additionally, 2.70 lakh new savings bank accounts were opened, generating ₹103 crore in revenue.
Kujur informed that 18 Dak Ghar Niryat Kendra (Postal Export Centers) are operational across 13 districts, contributing ₹1.2 crore in revenue since 2022. The postal circle has also promoted philately through special postal covers on heritage and cultural themes, such as Jageshwar Dham, Katarmal Sun Temple, and tribal crafts like Munj grass and Bhojpatra.
For infrastructure development, restoration work has been completed at Dehradun GPO, Dehradun Cantt, and Kotdwar post offices. New postal buildings are being constructed on five departmental lands, and accessibility features such as ramps, rails, and Braille signage have been added at 17 locations.
In financial services, the circle recorded over 66,000 new Postal Life Insurance (PLI) policies in 2023–24, generating ₹137.65 crore in premiums, while 13,192 new Rural PLI (RPLI) policies added ₹97.90 crore. The India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has opened over 24,000 new premium accounts so far this year.
Kujur also disclosed that 1,238 Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) posts were announced this year, with 802 candidates currently in training and 436 new positions to be re-advertised. The department is also working to reactivate inactive Aadhaar centers to enhance citizen access to digital services.
The proposal for 31 new post offices, if approved, is expected to bring essential postal, financial, and digital services to underserved rural areas—strengthening the motto of “local service with a global reach.”
