DoP to launch mobile-based money transfer service

The Department of Posts (DoP) will soon launch mobile-based money  transfer service in the state for quicker transfer of money to remote places.

The aim is to launch the scheme in select areas of Idukki, Pathanamthitta and Aluva initially, Chief Post-master General Shobha Koshy told reporters here.

The service is being introduced to help those who are unable to avail of banking services in remote areas. The service will be operated by DoP with technological support from BSNL.

Those intending to use the service will have to get a unique PIN code issued from their nearest post office which should be forwarded to the recipient to facilitate delivery of money at home, she said. The department is simultaneously engaged in an extensive computerisation drive and has covered almost 98 per cent of the post offices in the state. Out of the 1,507 post offices, only around 29 post offices remain to be incorporated in the drive.

The total computerisation of post offices would help in making e-services like e-post and e-money order more effective and useful. Post offices with inadequate infrastructure would be given  devices like netbook or tablets.

Shobha Koshy said that computerisation of post offices has been taken up to make services more effective and deal with the challenge thrown by the private sector. It was with this aim that the Railway Mail Service (RMS) started 24-hour operations in some stations.

As an additional initiative, the department has started collecting water bills and building tax bills in Thiruvananthapuram, she said, adding that the service will soon be extended to other areas.

The DoP is also introducing core banking ATM facility in the state. 56 post offices have been selected for the ATM facility.

She said that the department is also planning to aggressively market its postal life-insurance products in rural areas.