HIMACHAL PRADESH Postal Circle A Profile Postmen of H.P. Circle participating in Republic Day Parade at historical the Ridge Shimla on 26.01.2020. Content Chapter Page No. Chapter Page No. Contents 16. Public Grievance Redressal .............................................29 1. Introduction .........................................................................5 17. India Post Payments Bank ................................................29 2. Jurisdiction ...........................................................................6 18. Swatchh Bharat Mission ...................................................30 3. Organization Structure .......................................................9 19. Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) ....................30 4. Network ..............................................................................10 20. Status of Computerization and Information Technology 5. Growth of Network ...........................................................10 (IT) Services in H.P. Circle ..................................................31 6. COVID-19 ...........................................................................11 Division wise.............................................................................38 Chamba Postal Division ...................................................38 7. Human Resource ..............................................................18 8. Mail Network ......................................................................19 Dehra Postal Division ........................................................40 9. Financial Services ..............................................................21 Dharamsala Postal Division .............................................42 10. Postal Life Insurance Business ..........................................22 Hamirpur Postal Division ...................................................44 11. Premium Services ..............................................................24 Mandi Postal Division ........................................................46 12. Traditional Services ...........................................................24 Rampur Bushahr Postal Division ......................................48 13. Philately ..............................................................................26 Shimla Postal Division .......................................................50 14. Jan Suraksha Schemes of Prime Minister .......................26 Solan Postal Division .........................................................54 15. Estates Management .......................................................27 Una Postal Division ............................................................56 3 Smt. Smita Kumar, CPMG (HP), Sh. Rajeev Kapoor, Circle Head IPPB (HP) and Ms. Deeksha, BPM Kaled (Dehra Gopipur Dn.) facilitated by Shri A.N. Nanda, Secretary (Posts) in presence of Sh. Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister of Communication, GOI and Sh. Salim Haque, Member (Technology) Postal Services Board on 11.09.2019. 4 1. Introduction Himachal Pradesh Postal Circle with its Headquarters at Shimla was carved out of the erstwhile North West (N.W.) Circle in December, 1986. The Circle encompasses the entire State of Himachal Pradesh covering an area of 55673 Sq.Kms. and population of 68.65 lacs as per 2011 census. It comprises 9 Postal Divisions, one R.M.S. Division, one Postal Stores Depot and the office of Director of Accounts (Postal). Since the inception of the Circle, w.e.f. 08.12.1986, the Postmaster General/Chief Postmaster General of the status of Joint Secretary to the Government of India remained the administrative head of the Circle. On upgradation of the post, the Circle is now headed by Chief Postmaster General of the rank of Additional Secretary to the Government of India. At Circle Headquarters, the Chief Postmaster General is assisted by one Director Postal Services, Director (Accounts) and four other officers in Circle Office. 5 2. Jurisdiction The HP Postal Circle co-terminates with the entire territory of HP State whose statistical highlights are as follows: Area 55673 Sq.Kms. Population (2011 Census) 68,64,602 (Approximately 68.65 Lac) No. of Revenue Districts 12 No.of Tehsils 106 (As per statistical Year Book of HP 2018-19) No.of Blocks 80 (As per statistical Year Book of HP 2018-19) No.of Gram Panchayats 3226 (As per statistical Year Book of HP 2018-19) Density (As per Census) 123 person per square kilometre 6 Volleyball Team of H.P. Postal Circle in a group photograph with Hon’ble Governor of Himachal Pradesh Shri Bandaru Dattatreya on closing ceremony of 34th All India Postal Volleyball Tournament hosted by Himachal Pradesh Postal Circle from 23rd to 26th Spetember,2019 at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Shimla. The team of HP Postal Circle emerged as winner of the tournament. 7 Pavilion of Himachal Pradesh Postal Circle during Global Investors’ Meet organized by Government of Himachal Pradesh on 7th & 8th November 2019 at Dharamshala . The event was graced with the auspicious presence of Hon’ble Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi. 8 3. Organization Structure Himachal Pradesh Postal Circle comprises of 9 Postal Divisions, one RMS Division, one PSD, one DAP and one Civil Division Chief Postmaster General 01 Director Postal Accounts Director Postal Services HQ 01 Civil Wing 09 Postal 01 RMS 01 Postal Division Division Store Depot Dehra Dharam- Chamba Hamirpur Mandi Gopipur sala Rampur Shimla Solan Una Bushahr 9 4. Network 4.1 The Circle has a Network of 2795 Post Offices, out of which The Network of Post offices in the State serves a population 132 Post Offices are in urban area, 2663 Post Offices are in of 68.65 lacs. On an average, a Post Office in the State serves rural area. an area of 19.92 Sq. Kms and a population of 2456 persons as against the National average of 7725 persons per Post Office The area-wise distribution of the Post office is as under:- and an average area of 21.48 Sq.Kms. The details of coverage Status of Post Offices Urban Rural Total of population and area per post office in Rural and Urban Head Post Offices 15 03 18 areas are as under:- Sub Post Offices 104 349 453 Average Coverage Urban Rural Combined Branch Post Offices 13 2311 2324 per Post Office Total 132 2663 2795 Population served 5216 2319 2456 Heads Heads Heads Besides above, 8 Franchisee Outlets and 20 Panchayat Area served 2.05 20.80 19.92 Sanchar Sewa Kendras (PSSKs) are also functioning in Sq.Kms. Sq.Kms. Sq.Kms. the Circle. 4.3 Mail collection is done through 6480 letter boxes. Every village 4.2 There are 20690 total villages out of which 17882 inhabited having a population of 300 population or above has a letter villages in the Circle according to 2011 census. In this circle box installed. Mail is also collected through Delivery Staff. 3226 are Gram Panchayat villages out of which 2446 Gram 4.4 There is one Mail Motor Unit located in Shimla with a total fleet Panchyat villages have Post Offices and 20 villages are of 12 number of vehicles. The vehicles have been provided with covered under Panchayat Sanchar Sewa Kendra scheme. Global Positioning System (GPS) for monitoring the movement All the villages are provided with daily mail delivery service. of the vehicles. 5. Growth of Network There has been adequate expansion of Postal facilities in the Circle since its inception in December, 1986. At the time of inception, there were 2427 Post Offices in the Circle which have now gone up to 2795 thereby listing a growth of 15%. 10 6. COVID-19 6.1 COVID-19 control room was made functional since 24.03.2020 in Circle Office and Divisional Offices to monitor postal activities and compile various reports regarding opening of post offices, staff attendance, mail transmission thorough various modes, booking and delivery of accountable articles, reports of Core Banking Solutions (CBS) and India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) and payment of Social Security Pensions at doorstep. 6.2 Established Circle COVID Case Response and Management Team (CCCRMT) at Circle level and Division level COVID Case Response & Management Team (DCCRMT) at Divisional level for regular monitoring of COVID-19. 6.3 Ensured Supply of masks, hand sanitizers to all Postal Employees (including GDS), particularly delivery staff and staff involved for AADHAAR enabled transactions before proceeding to their respective beats. 6.4 Timely supply of personal protections equipments such as masks, hand sanitizer and gloves etc. to Post Office staff particularly to delivery staff, counter staff and GDS. 6.5 Conducted Virtual meetings with all stakeholders to review preventive measures against spread of COVID-19 and prepare common strategy in case detection of COVID 19 positive employee. Virtual meetings were promoted at each level. 6.6 Contact less door step delivery of postal articles was ensured. 6.7 Isolation units in Postal colonies were identified. 11 Payment of Social Security Pension at doorstep was ensured during lockdown. Efforts were also appreciated by Hon’ble Governor of Himachal Pradesh. 12 Mobile Post Office: An initiative by Una Postal Division during lockdown. 13 6.8 Ensured every employee download Arogya Setu app in their mobile and take self assessment before coming to office. 6.9 Ensured thermal scanning in all big post offices and administrative offices. 6.10 Ensured frequent sanitization of offices an d mail vans. 6.11 Implemented Attendance of employees with staggered timings. 6.12 Strict adherence to the practices of social distancing norms and health & hygiene