Govt plans to use India Post's postmen to educate people on schemes and policy - NEWS
New Delhi: The government is planning to use India Post's 1.55 lakh-strong branch network to reach out to citizens in far flung and backward areas and educate them about the various policies, schemes and incentives.
The ministry of information and broadcasting runs various awareness programmes for the citizens leveraging the Internet and the social media.
However, these initiatives are still out of the reach of many who live in backward and far flung areas there is no connectivity, sources said.
"This category of population is sizable and within the reach of post offices. I&B ministry can design programmes region-wise, which can then be used by the postman to go to these areas and educate the people," a source said.
The idea is to utilise the huge network of India Posts' post offices across the country, especially to reach out to people in areas not connected with the Internet, and educate them about the government's policies, schemes and incentives, the sources added.
With the world's largest postal network, India Post has about 1.55 lakh post offices spread across the country. On an average, a post office serves an area of 21.21 sq km and a population of 7,175 people.
Besides, postman can also be used for directly collecting feedback from the people in rural areas on various policies and schemes, sources added.
"Also digital boards and panels can be set up at the post offices across these areas to educate people on not just schemes and policies, but also on issues related to health and education," they said.
The Task Force set up by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is already holding consultations in this regard with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Modi has set up the Task Force to leverage the postal network in India to enhance the role of India Posts in financial inclusion, among other services and it is expected to submit its report by year-end.
The Task Force includes the Department of Posts Secretary Kavery Banerjee, Telecom Secretary Rakesh Garg, Department of Electronics and IT Secretary R S Sharma, Rural Development Secretary L C Goyal and former SEBI Chairman G N Bajpai.
Former Cabinet Secretary TSR Subramanian is the Chairman of the Task Force.
Souvenir - Diamond Jubilee Celebrations - Dwaraka - Gujrat -- 23rd & 24th November 214
Depts ignoring DoPT rules in RTI matters: notice issued
Even nine years after enactment of the Right to Information Act, officials have been found to be rejecting applications with fee drawn in favour of 'Accounts Officer' as mandated by the Central Government.
Taking a stern view against the practice, the Central Information Commission recently issued a show-cause notice to the Delhi Government for rejecting an RTI application on the grounds it was drawn in favour of "Accounts Officer" and not in favour of "Executive Engineer" as per their internal rules.
This is not the only case where application has been rejected. In a number of cases, public authorities like Army and Indian Air Force demand fee drawn as per their rules and do not follow the DoPT norms.
The application sought details of MPLAD funds and their expenses during the last five years on flood control measures. It was returned by the Irrigation Department claiming that name of the payee was wrong on the fee submitted by the applicant.
"The Commission directs Rajesh Singh, Executive Engineer: Civil Division:IV to show cause as to why penalty u/s 20 should not be imposed upon him for not accepting the IPO in the name of the Accounts Officer despite clear instructions from DoPT.
"He is directed to submit his response so as to reach the Commission within three weeks of receipt of this order," Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu said.
If the officer fails to explain the reason for rejecting the application, the Commission may penalise him at the rate of Rs 250 per day from the day the application was filed subject to a maximum penalty of Rs 25,000.
He also directed the PIO to ensure that while responding to the RTI application, the PIO should ensure that reference date is mentioned so that appellants do not find it difficult to link it to their RTI application.
"Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has repeatedly reminded public authorities to accept all payments under RTI Act made in 'Accounts Officer'. But difficulties are being faced by RTI petitioners because of public authorities not complying with DoPT circulars," RTI applicant Subhash Agrawal said.
CENTRAL CIVIL SERVICES (CLASSIFICATION, CONTROL AND APPEAL) RULES, 1965- ADVICE OF THE UNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION (UPSC) TO BE COMMUNICATED TO THE DELINQUENT GOVERNMENT SERVANT - AMENDMENT - REGARDING
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CENTRAL CIVIL SERVICE (CLASSIFICATION, CONTROL AND APPEAL) RULES, 1965 - INSTRUCTION REGARDING TIMELY REVIEW OF SUSPENSION. (Click the link below for details)
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