Features of Rural ICT Handheld Device Supplied to Branch Post Offices
As
a pilot phase Department of Post has started using solar powered, biometric
hand-held devices in rural post office with connectivity along with the
application software in selected circles viz. Bihar, UP and Rajasthan. This move was the outcome of Rural ICT
project declared by the Government of India.
Following re the important features or benefits of Hand-held device supplied to Branch Post Offices.
1. Electronic transactions- Booking and delivery
of Speed Post, registered mail, money orders, sale of stamps and postal
stationery will be done through these devices and paper receipt shall be
generated
2. Instantaneously thereby eliminating chances
of overcharging and other problems associated with manual transactions. Savings
Bank deposits & withdrawals, PLI/RPLI premium deposits and loan/claim
payments will also be done electronically on these devices.
3. Immediate uploading of transaction data and
financial reconciliation- Using mobile connectivity, data pertaining to all
transactions done on the hand-held devices shall be uploaded onto the central
server. E-Money order will reach the destination post office instantaneously
unlike present day where the money order is digitized at the nearest
computerized Post Office and leads to delay in delivery. All financial
transactions shall also be reconciled immediately without any manual
intervention and Cash on Delivery amount collected in the village shall be
immediately credited to the account of e-Commerce Company. Similarly the
artisans would be able to fulfill e-commerce orders and receive immediate
payment for their sold products online. This will have a positive impact on the
overall economy of the villages.
4.
Automatic track and trace- Speed Post and Registered letters/parcels and money
remittances will be trackable at the Branch Post Office level and
booking/delivery information will also be uploaded to central server
immediately.
5.
Fraud and leakage elimination- As Savings Bank and Postal Life Insurance
transactions will be done on a real-time basis and through immediate generation
of receipt and voice message, chances of fraud would be eliminated. Biometric
authentication of MNREGS and social security beneficiaries at the time of
pay-out would also reduce leakage in the schemes