India Post collects over Rs 280 crore via Cash-on-Delivery for e-commerce firms

November 30, 2014

Within a year of joining the e-commerce bandwagon as a distribution channel, government entity India Post has transacted business worth Rs 280 crore in the Cash-on-Delivery (CoD) segment alone for firms like Flipkart, Snapdeal and Amazon.

While the amount of revenue generated for itself could not be ascertained, government officials said India Post is very keen on developing its e-commerce related services as a major revenue model going ahead.

"India Post collected over Rs 280 crore from consumers and gave it to e-commerce firms, since CoD facility was started in December 2013. The department with its huge network can serve as the best agency for not just delivering products, but also collecting money," a government official said.

However, this is a small chunk of the overall market size for e-commerce in India, which runs into billions of dollars already and is growing at a fast pace every year.

CoD has emerged as one of the most sought after services for e-commerce entities and 50-75 per cent of orders are placed with various online retailers with this payment option, while the remaining opt for credit card or bank payments.

In India, customers tend to prefer CoD as the online payment modes are yet to catch up in many parts of the country while many people are not comfortable with advance payments for products purchased online.

India Post's cash handling services like core banking solutions, money transfer and a robust account system can further help e-commerce firms in collecting cash from users in urban as well as rural areas, the official said.

India Post has about 1.55 lakh post offices, making it the world's largest postal network. On an average, a post office serves 21.21 sq km area and about 7,175 people.

Another official said various e-commerce firms have been using India Posts CoD facility since it was introduced. Firms like Flipkart, Snapdeal, Amazon, Shopclues, Naaptol, Telebrands and Homeshop18 are some of them.

India Post has set up booking counters in the premises of some customers like Amazon and Naaptol, while for Snapdeal it is exploring setting up of e-commerce booking kiosks in post office locations.

Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has also said previously that India Post is best suited to offer delivery services to e-commerce players, given its wide reach across rural, urban and semi-urban areas.

The Minister has directed officials from the Department of Posts to focus on opportunities in e-commerce sector.

India Post is also ramping up its infrastructure to grab a major chunk of the distribution, delivery or logistics, which will touch about $9 billion by 2021. According to market experts, e-commerce business in India was about $6 billion in value in 2012 and is expected to touch $76 billion by 2021 of which distribution, delivery and logistics constitutes around 12 per cent.

Source : The Economic Times

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To
GDS Comrades,

This time there is no separate accommodation is possible to provide to GDS comrades coming for participation in PARLIAMENT MARCH on 4th December 2014. 

The accommodation provided by Gr.C & P4 CHQ is also for GDS participants' accommodation. 

GDS Comrades are requested to adjust / stay with our NFPE Unions' comrades of respective Circles.

Now the temperature in Delhi is between 15 - 20 degrees and cold weather is prevailing. 

Please carry suitable wollen clothing and blankets etc,. 

Places of Accommodation :

(1) Gr.C (CHQ)

KHAMPUR  CHAUPAL ( MARRIAGE HALL)

(OPPOSITE to METRO PILLAR No.224 )

NEAR  SHADIPUR METRO STATION

NEW PATEL ROAD

SHADIPUR   , PATEL NAGAR  

NEWDELHI- 110008

(2) P4 (CHQ)

AMBEDKAR BHAWAN
RANI JHANSI ROAD

Near JHANDEWALAN METRO STATION
Opposite to VIDEOCON TOWER
KAROLBAGH
NEW DELHI - 110 005

Pre-implementation activities towards preparedness of Branch Post Office for Rural ICT implementation

 November 29, 2014

   I.        The BO should have table to place the Handheld Device and for charging the device.

 II.        The electrical power connection is required to charge the Solar UPS wherever power is available. In the locations where electrical power is not available, the UPS will be charged from Solar Panel.

 III.   The locations where electrical power connection is there, it should have proper earthing and with one or two plug points along with on/off switch.

 IV.     The above site preparation is to be done before the roll out starts for the particular Division.

  V.        The data on BO such as the name of the BPM, contact details, address of the BO with land marks etc. may be updated and kept ready.

 VI.      The availability of the network connectivity (Vodafone/ BSNL / Airtel etc.)at the BO location may also accessed and the best signal available in the BO may be identified and kept in order to facilitate the Vendor with details to drive best out of the project. If the network signal is not available, we have to identify as Off-line BO.

 VII.  Similarly identification of the BOs where the solar UPS is not required due to installation problems of the solar panel or good power availability for more than 6 hours daily, has to be also done.  

The complete information in respect of all BOs is to be uploaded to the specific webpage domain name (to be circulated shortly) on the India Post website by 30-12-2014.

Source : Department of Posts (RB Division) Letter No.01-07/2014-RB dated 27-11-2014. 

The format for collection of desired information in respect of Branch Post Offices :

Format for getting information from Branch Post Offices

Name of Branch Post Office:

Name of Sub Post Office:

Name of Head Post Office:

Name of Division:

Name of Region:

Name of the Circle:

S. No.	Information Required	Information
1.	Name of the BPM
2.	Educational qualification of the BPM
3	English Knowledge of BPM: i.                 Read and Write ii.                Read iii.              Cannot read and write
4.	Contact Details(Mobile no., email ID)
5.	Address of the B.O. with landmark
6	Timing of B.O.
7.	Staff Strength
8.	Where is B.O. situated: i.                 In BPM ‘s house ii.                In Panchayat office iii.              Any other place, pl specify
9.	Accessibility of B.O. : i.                 Distance from Panchayat Office ii.                Distance from Market iii.              Distance from Railway Station iv.              Distance from Bus Stand/BusStop
10.	Whether a vacant Departmental plot is available in the village in which B.O. is located: i.                 Yes ii.                No
11.	Whether Panchayat  office is located in the village: i.                 Yes ii.                No
12.	Whether B.O. is housed in a Pucca (cemented structure) premises: i.                 Yes ii.                No
13.	Whether separate space is available in the premises for Post Office work: i.                 Yes ii.                No
14.	Whether electric power connection is available in the B.O.: i.                 Yes ii.                No
15.	Availability of Electricity in the village: i.                 Upto 6 hrs. ii.                More than 6 hrs. iii.              Village not electrified
16.	Which telephone network is available in village: i.                 BSNL ii.                Vodafone iii.              Airtel iv.              Aircel v.               Idea vi.              Reliance vii.            Any other, pl specify viii.           None
17.	Total No. of Savings accounts:              (Including MGNREGA, Pension etc.)
18.	Total No. of RD Accounts
19.	Total No. of RPLI & PLI Policies  :
20.	Total  Transactions per day : (Avg.of the all transactions of peak month )
21.	Registered Articles/Speed Post :            ( Delivery and Booking avg. per month)
22.	Money Orders (All MOs booking and delivery avg. per month)
23.	Avg. Cash transaction per day
24.	Whether cash chest is available in B.O. : i.                 Yes ii.                No

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Introduction Of Plastic Notes

It has been decided by the Government to introduce plastic notes in the denomination of Rs. 10/-. One billion plastic notes of the denomination of Rs. 10/- will be introduced in a field trial in five cities selected for their geographical and climatic diversity. 

The primary objective of introduction of polymer/plastic notes is to increase its life and not to combat counterfeiting. The cities selected for field train are Kochi, Mysore, Jaipur, Shimla and Bhubaneswar. 

The Reserve Bank of India has informed that since the proposal is at a trial stage, the decision on replacement of currency notes with plastic notes will depend on the outcome of field trial. 

This information was given by the Minister of State for Finance, Shri Jayant Sinha in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

pib