New Delhi: The faceless postman — once portrayed poetically by Rabindranath Tagore — and the need to revamp the postal services in the country figured prominently during question hour in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
Answering supplementary questions from members, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who holds charge of the department of posts, said efforts are on “to make use of the vast network of postal platform all over the country for better growth and financial inclusion”.
He said at the directive of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is working hard to reinforce the infrastructure, connectivity and modernisation programme of the postal services and substantial progress has been made since 2014.
“Nearly 21,000-plus branches (of post offices) have been given core banking solution in only two years. It was only 230 in 2014. I am not saying that everything has been done,” he said, adding that his ministry will also give “hand-held device to all postmen across India by March 2017”. (IANS)