People still trust Postal department : Ravi Shankar Prasad

NEW DELHI: Underscoring the importance of India Post, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today claimed that even Maoists don't target the postal network for the fear of losing people's support. 

"People of the country still trust the postal department. I want to tell you a very sensitive thing... there is so much of Maoist violence, but still, the attacks on post is low because they (Maoists) also know that if they try to attack it, the people will be unhappy with them," Prasad said during the launch of a mobile app for India Post. 

The Minister suggested that India Post should strive to become the largest player in the e-commerce segment. 

"I want that in e-commerce, India Post should become the largest player and you have to do it... if you take 4 steps, I will take 10 steps with you because I am seeing that in India, e-commerce has got a very good future," he said. 

Prasad assured the staff that not even a single employee would lose his job even as he exhorted them to change with times. 

The postal department has established the e-commerce centre at Safdarjang in New Delhi which will handle e-retailing exclusively. It's equipped with modern technology and is capable of handling 30,000 parcels per day. 

Leading e-commerce players such as Amazon, Paytm, Yepme, Snapdeal and the like are already using services of India Post. 

The mobile app for India Post is android-based and includes features like real-time tracking, post office search and postage calculator. 

India Post has over 1.55 lakh post offices, of which more than 1.39 lakh are in rural areas. 

Prasad said in a Facebook post, "I am happy to share with you that India Post collected Rs 500 crore from Cash on Delivery of eCommerce parcels alone in 2014-15." 

The Minister said he met the representatives of eCommerce majors and assured them of the best services from India Post.

Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/