SALIENT
FEATURES OF DRAFT NATIONAL POSTAL POLICY, 2012
1.
Setting up a 'Postal Development Board' for overall development and governance
of Postal Sector. Besides this, the Board will draw roadmap for unbundling of
functions (operations, regulation and policy making) in postal sector over a
period of time, in order to develop an organized, competitive, effective, well
governed and commercial postal market in India.
2.
Constitute Postal Advisory Council comprising policy makers, postal operators
and other stakeholders. The council will be an advisory body for effective
implementation of the policy.
3.
Create, Institutional Framework for continuous data collection from all postal
operators. Collected data will be used to develop postal indicators and quality
measurement systems.
4.
Develop minimum & fair standards and quality measurement systems for all
postal operators. Govt. to support small and medium postal operators to provide
quality services and encourage entrepreneurship in the sector.
5.
Create 'Postal ICT and R&D Fund' to ensure adequate flow of investment into
postal R&D to enhance and standardize utilization of leT in the sector.
6.
Promote Public Private Partnership for Development in the sector.
7.
Government to Develop National Postal Infrastructure (transportation system,
addressing database and standards, automated mail sorting, database management
systems etc.) which will be sharable among all postal operators.
8.
Develop Vocational training Framework for the postal sector through
institutional linkages between postal and other sectors and between postal
sector and educational institutions.
9.
Adopting a pragmatic and equitable approach for managing the usO.
10. Transform post offices into public delivery
channel for services like ecommerce, e-governance and financial inclusion.
Post Offices to be identified as Primary Public Access Points (PPAP) for these
services.
11.
Strengthen India Post by redesigning business structures with sufficient
autonomy, digitizing and connecting all post offices and establishing Post Bank
of India.
12.
lmplement strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of the postal sector
including harnessing renewable energy sources like solar, biomass and wind.
13.
Attract investment to facilitate expansion of National Postal Infrastructure in
rural and undeserved areas.
14.
Organize studies and campaigns for increasing public awareness on the
developmental role of the sector.
15. Launch of Special Purpose Vehicle (SPVs) and
Joint Ventures (JVs) to promote collaboration between the government and the
private sector in commercial ventures.
16.
Amend the Indian Post Office Act 1898 to meet the objectives of National Postal
Policy 2012.
National
Postal Policy 2012
Draft
Department
of Posts
Ministry of
Communications and information Technology,
Government
of India
Preamble
Postal services originated out of the need for conveying the
written word. They evolved over the ages, and grew in scope, spread and
complexity. The post, today, is a ubiquitous network which serves the world by
connecting individuals and communities, promoting trade and commerce, and
reaching financial services to the common man.
Despite the advent of the digital revolution, post is still the
most economical and accessible among the different modes of communication
available to the public. The mandate of the postal sector is three dimensional
- being a channel for moving information, goods and money. This mandate makes
postal services a tool of development, an enabler of commerce and a facilitator
of the aspirations of the people.
The current postal environment is complex and dynamic. Based on
international experience, the status and direction of the postal sector can be
summarized as under:
¨ Declining letter mail volumes, increasing
electronic substitution, and growing competition.
¨ Postal Administrations which concentrate
on the core business of mail are struggling for survival, while those which
diversified into nonmail businesses like financial services and e-Commerce are
successful in negotiating the changed environment.
¨ Postal administrations worldwide are
increasing their productivity by employing state of the art technology.
¨ Though the principle of
separation of regulator and operator is widely discussed, it is yet to find
universal acceptance.
¨ Postal markets in emerging economies
continue to be fragmented and unorganised.
¨ New business models are evolving from
emerging economies, with increased level of resource sharing and cooperation
among various service providers.
The environment, thus, poses overwhelming challenges to the
postal sector. However, it has also thrown up many opportunities. Potential
exists today for an overarching role for the postal sector in facilitating
internet based commerce, as a trusted third party who provides a secured space
for transactions. 'Cash on delivery services', fulfillment services for
lightweight packets and just-in-time shipment of goods are some of the services
for which demand is growing. The postal sector needs to be creative and
innovative to capitalize on these opportunities.
The National Postal Administration forms the core of the postal
sector. A strong and self-sufficient National Postal Administration is
essential for the survival of the sector, as this alone has a countrywide
distribution network, which can be leveraged for profitable partnerships
involving the private sector or other government agencies.
The postal market in India is governed by the Indian Post Office
Act 1898. The Act entrusts the Central Government with the exclusive right to
collect and deliver letters, which is implemented through the National Postal
Administration. The term 'letter', however, is not defined in the Act. A large
number of courier operators are present in the postal market in India. They are
free to handle documents, parcels and other items of mail which -do not fall
under the category. 'letter'. No authentic data exists regarding the number of
such operators or the volume of mails they handle.
Entry and exit in the postal sector are free. However, there are
issues related to governance, standardization and quality of service which call
for institutional reforms. Such reforms are essential to allow free interplay
of market forces and the consequent stabilization of the postal market. They
are also required to ensure the delivery of efficient and affordable universal
postal services, which is essential for the geographical and social
cohesiveness of the country.
Effective governance of the postal market has proved to be a key
feature of reform in advanced countries. Hence any postal sector in developing
countries also requires an effective governance mechanism.
Another issue that needs attention at the policy level is the
fragmented lCT environment of the postal sector, which is contributing to
underutilization of resources on many fronts. The absence of organized efforts
in Human Resource Development and Planning, and the non-adoption of modern
practices in this area are also concerns, as they deprive the postal sector of
skilled workforce.
The postal sector in India is in urgent need of legislative and
institutional reforms to build the foundation for its future growth.
Governance, market development, definition of universal service obligation and
standardization of leT practices are important elements in this reform process.
The National Postal Policy has been developed to address the
systemic challenges facing the postal sector and to enhance contribution of the
sector to the national economy. It recognizes the specific needs, expectations
and service requirements of governments, customers, postal operators and other
stake holders. The Government will use the Policy to provide necessary guidance
and direction to the postal sector with the aim of maximizing public good.
Guiding Principles
a) Development of an organised and well
governed postal sector.
b) Provision of Universal Postal Services
countrywide.
c) Promotion of partnerships between private
and public sectors.
d) Provision of quality services at
affordable prices.
e) Adoption of inclusive and transparent
processes for policy formulation, implementation and monitoring ..
Vision
Organised and well governed postal sector, recognised as
contributing to the economic and social development of the nation.
Mission
¨ To maximise public good by providing
reliable, efficient, secure and affordable postal services
¨ To offer mail, courier, express, parcel,
logistics, e-commerce and remittance services to the entire population of the
country.
¨ To promote the
economic and social connectivity of the people in the country.
¨ To foster
sustainable development of the postal sector through an inclusive and
transparent institutional framework, good governance and adoption of fair
common standards and technological innovation.
¨ To promote
cooperation, interaction, resource sharing and fair competition among
stakeholders.
¨ To adopt global best practices of Human
Resources Management for developing a skiiied, committed and motivated
workforce.
Objectives
1. Developing an organised and well governed postal sector
Better governance in the postal sector and strengthening of the
universal postal service will benefit citizens, businesses and governments.
Strategies
a. To provide efficient and effective basic
postal services at affordable prices to all sections of the population over all
geographies.
b. Leverage the network, infrastructure and
expertise of the National Postal Administration for the growth and development
of the postal sector.
c. Develop postal statistical indicators and
include relevant postal indicators among broader infrastructure development
indicators.
d. Provide holistic support to micro, small
and medium postal service providers and encourage entrepreneurship in the
sector.
e. Integrate programs for development of the
postal sector with National lCT Policy Framework and National Development
Plans.
f. Promote the role of postal sector in
achieving Millennium Development Goals as identified by the United Nations
2. Augmenting access to postal services
Access to postal services
is critical for disseminating information, conr1ecting individuals and
communities, and facilitating trade aild commerce. Appropriate and affordable
technology solutions are to be adopted to augment the access.
Strategies
a. Ensure basic postal services at affordable
prices.
b. Upgrade both capacities and capabilities
of the weaker links in the postal network to improve their effectiveness.
c. Integrate the physical network with
electronic services to provide value added products and services.
d. Implement a programme to encourage the
community, the civil society and the private sector to participate in
provisioning of postal servIces.
e. Recognise post offices as primary public
access points for Internet services,
e-Government services (tax, procurement, public utilities, passports, birth certificates, driving permits, pensions, social security benefits etc.) and
e-Commerce applications (online product/service ordering, delivery, payments, private utilities/services etc.)
e-Government services (tax, procurement, public utilities, passports, birth certificates, driving permits, pensions, social security benefits etc.) and
e-Commerce applications (online product/service ordering, delivery, payments, private utilities/services etc.)
f. Organise campaigns for increasing public·
awareness on the developmental role of the sector.
3. Enhancing the quality of service.
Enhanced quality of service at affordable price is critical to
the survival of the Postal Sector. Quality of service is reflected in the
degree of professionalism with which postal service providers fulfil the
changing needs of customers. Improving the quality of postal services calls for
investments in infrastructure, adoption of ICT, and raising a well-trained and
motivated workforce.
Strategies
a. Set up and enforce minimum and fair
standards in the postal sector, in line with global trends and documented best
practises.
b. Develop quality measurement systems
applicable to all postal operators.
c. Utilise ICT in the provisioning of postal
services, especially in areas like automation of mail processing, and adopt
modern practices like data and address management systems and digital stamping.
d. Enhance mail security by sharing
knowledge, experience and best practices with National Postal Administrations
of other countries and adopting statutes to enforce appropriate governance
standards.
e. Develop a modern transportation network to
support countrywide conveyance and delivery of mail.
f. Enhanced cooperation with Universal
Postal Union, APPU, SAPU and other similar bodies for evolving common global
and regional approaches for improving postal services.
4. Developing postal and supporting infrastructure
Postal infrastructure consists of elements like distribution
networks, PIN code based address system, mail access points, automated mail
sorting systems and data management systems. Supporting physical infrastructure
on the other hand includes roads, electricity, and general utilities. Service
quality and cost of operations are directly related to the state of postal and
its supporting infrastructure.
Strategies
a. Define National Postal Infrastructure and
recognise it as essential Public Infrastructure.
b. Enable National Postal Administration
through legal and institutional framework to create National Postal
Infrastructure.
c. Take steps to attractjnvestment to
facilitate expansion of National Postal Infrastructure in rural and underserved
areas.
d. Identify National Postal Administration as
the repository of all postal addresses and support it with required legal
provisions.
e. Define addressing standards. Promote usage
of PIN Codes.
f. Formulate guidelines for infrastructure
sharing and partnerships.
g. Implement strategies to reduce the carbon
footprint of the postal sector, including harnessing renewable energy sources
like solar, biomass and wind.
5. Promoting the use of lCT in provisioning of postal services
ICT offers immense opportunities to the postal sector to reduce
cost, improve efficiency and enhance quality of service. Some of the common
areas of ICT deployment in postal sector are automation of mail processing,
mail coding, tracking of mail and ERP solutions. Interoperability and
standardization are two critical requirements that need to be met while
developing and deploying ICT solutions in the postal sector.
Strategies
a. Identify and analyse the emerging
technologies and business models to help the postal sector achieve sustainability
in the growing digital and mobile economies .
b. Promote, stimulate and support the
development of customised ICT applications for the postal sector.
c. Minimize usage of paper and paper
products in postal sector by promoting the use of relevant ICT solutions.
d. Create centres of excellence for training,
research and development of postal ICT products.
e. Create and maintain an open forum for
consultation and dialogue on matters of ICT in the postal sector.
f. Create a "Postal lCT and R&D
Fund" to ensure adequate flow of investment into postal R&D to enhance
utilisation of ICT in the postal sector.
6. Promoting utilisation of postal services to deliver national
programmes and
e-services.
e-services.
The addition of lCT capabilities to its traditional strengths of
last mile reach and trust of the masses will make the postal network the ideal
choice to deliver e-governance and
e-commerce. The e-service solutions will improve the speed and efficiency of service delivery to the citizens and institutions. The National Postal Administration is the ideal implementation partner for government agencies in growth and poverty reduction programmes.
e-commerce. The e-service solutions will improve the speed and efficiency of service delivery to the citizens and institutions. The National Postal Administration is the ideal implementation partner for government agencies in growth and poverty reduction programmes.
Strategies
a. Identify challenges in public
administration for which solutions can be evolved by utilising the postal
system and develop adequate postal solutions to cope with them.
b. Promote cooperation and synergy between
government and private sector entities through the route of Public Private
Partnerships for achieving national goals and public welfare.
c. Transform post offices into public
delivery channel for services like
e-Commerce, e-Governance and financial inclusion programmes that involve a huge customer-base.
e-Commerce, e-Governance and financial inclusion programmes that involve a huge customer-base.
d. Develop appropriate National Address
Database Systems and applications using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to
support the delivery of
e-Services.
e-Services.
e. Provide a wide range of e-enabled value
added products and services.
7. Developing a framework for Human Resource Development and
Planning
Being a labour intensive
sector, the quality of manpower in the postal sector is the key determinant of
the quality of the services it offers. Untrained and unskilled manpower not
only increases the cost of operations but also affects quality of service.
Strategies
a. Develop vocational training programmes
through institutional linkages between the postal and other sectors and between
the postal sector and educational institutions.
b. Introduce specialised training courses for
postal managers.
c. Develop compliance mechanism for
implementatioil of relevant government regulations relating to employee
benefits and workplace practices.
d. Create centres of excellence with public
private partnership for Research and Development.
e. Encourage alignment of job qualifications
and recruitment processes with the requirements of the sector.
f. Empower each employee with essential IT
capabilities in areas of functional relevance
8. Promoting competition in the provision of postal services
Fair competition leads to consumer satisfaction through lower
prices, more choice and better quality of service. Efforts aie therefore
required to promote competition in the provision of postal services so as to
maxi mise benefits to customers, particularly those in rural and inaccessible
areas.
Strategies
a. Create a market responsive and well
governed postal sector that aspires to maximize customer satisfaction.
b. Develop a governance and legislative
system that promotes fair competition in the postal market and offers customers
ample choice.
c. Spell out modalities for forming Special
Purpose Vehicles (SPV) and Joint Ventures (JV) that would Promote collaboration
between the government and private sector in commerciai ventures.
d. Promote adoption of ethical practices in
the postal sector and consider adopting internationally recognized standards in
this area.
9. Develop an institutional and governance framework.
Appropriate and responsive
governance and institutional framework acts as the foundation for the
development of the postal sector. Rapid advances in information technology as
well as the converge!1ce of technologies and delivery platforms offer·
tremendous opportunities for the development of. the postal sector. The backing
of a robust governance and statutory framework will enable the postal sector to
capitalise on these opportunities.
Strategies
a. Set up a 'Postal Development Board' for
overall development and governance of Postal Sector. Besides this, the Board
will draw roadmap for unbundling of functions (operations, regulation and
policy making) in postal sector over a period of time, in order to develop an
organized, competitive, effective, well governed and commercial postal market
in India.
The
Postal Development Board will be chaired by Secretary (Posts) and will have
Secretary (Deity), Secretary (Commerce), Secretary (Economic Affairs) and two
members from Postal Services Board as full time members and part time members
from other stakeholder bodies and Ministries.
b. Amend the Indian Post Office Act 1898 to
meet the objectives of National Postal Policy.
c. Constitute Postal Advisory Council
comprising policy makers, postal operators, and other stakeholders. The council
will be an advisory body for effective implementation of the policy.
d. Create institutional framework for
continuous data collection from all . postal operators.
e. Adopt a pragmatic and equitable approach
for managing the USO.
f. Equip Department of Posts to handle
legislative issues in matters relating to exchange of goods through postal and
courier network and deal with international trade negotiations in WTO, GATS and
other multilateral and bilateral negotiations relating to the sector.
10. Strengthen the National Postal Administration
The National Postal Administration plays a critical role in the postal sector by ensuring uninterrupted Universal Postal Services and providing
affordable postal and financial services to the less privileged sections of the
population. It operates in a complex environment of government control and
competition with private players. Strengthening the National Postal
Administration and transforming it into a reliable and trusted business partner
in the national economy is essential to maximize public good.
Strategies
a. Redesigning the business structure on
modern lines with the twin objectives of scaling up traditional silos of
business like mail, parcel, banking and insurance and capitalising on emerging
opportunities in areas like e-commerce, mobile-based services, e-governance,
express and logistics and financial retail services. The restructured business
silos to be given functional autonomy, wherever required.
b. Operationalize all post offices into a
fully converged digital network.
c. Redesign Human Resource policies
(recruitment rules, reward and recognition schemes, apprentice and internship
programmes, specialized training programmes etc.) to achieve the objectives of
National Postal Policy.
d. Creating a business environment that will
enable and encourage all stake holders of the sector to cooperate for mutual
benefit.
e. Establish Post Bank of India as the
dominant vehicle of financial inclusion.
11. Financing of postal sector
Effective implementation of
objectives and strategies forming part of the policy calls for adequate
financing through the following:
Strategies
a) Create an environment for attracting
international and domestic investments.
b) Endeavour to place postal sector projects
within the ambit of consideration of entities that provide project financing.
c) Provide a stable fiscal regime to
st!mulate investment and make . services more affordable.
12. Policy Implementation
Department of Posts, in
consultation with stakeholders, may develop a monitoring and evaluation
framework for the National Postal Policy. A mechanism may be evolved to monitor
the impact of the Policy in terms of achieving the objectives.
a. Establish a comprehensive Monitoring and
Evaluation framework for the implementation of the postal policy.
13. Conclusion
An efficient postal sector is a force multiplier in the economy,
promoting communication and commerce, and maximising public good. In the information
age, the postal sector is ideally placed to bridge the Digital Divide. The
National Postal Policy aims to facilitate the emergence of a robust, organised
and well governed postal sector in India. The Policy aims at developing and
deploying a participatory and transparent framework for policy formulation,
implementation, monitoring and evaluation for the postal sector.
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