4800 Post Offices offer fast speed Electronic Money Order Number to be doubled in next few months

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
*****
4800 Post Offices offer fast speed Electronic Money Order Number to be doubled in next few months

New Delhi : February 6, 2009

About 4800 Post Offices of the country are now giving the electronic Money Order (eMO) service after the scheme was launched in October last year. These Post Offices are electronically transmitting over 2.5 lakh money orders per month. With the number increasing rapidly, this service seems all set to replace physical transmission of money orders from one corner of the country to another. In the next few months, the service would be available in more than 9,300 computerized post offices all over the country.

Electronic Money Order provides more efficient and improved quality of service to customer without any extra cost. The initiative is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to make a difference in the Post Office operations and make it a window to the world for the common man. Electronic Money Order has similar tariff and limits of remittance as in the case of ordinary money order. EMOs can be paid at all Post offices including Branch Post Offices.. However, the service of ordinary domestic Money Order also remains available in the Post Offices.

EMO has become immensely popular in the islands of Lakshwadeep where transport constraints used to delay payment of money orders for days together.

This new Web-based money order system has made it possible for payment of money orders within a day of its booking in any part of the country. It has reduced transmission of vouchers from one place to another and provides for centralized information system on the money order service.

The entire system of booking and payment is very user friendly and special eMO money order forms can be easily filled up. The Web based system of transmission ensures that no money order is lost in transit and the destination point receives the money order within no time. The usual delay in transmission of money orders due to transport (rail, air, road) delays has totally been eliminated. The money orders at the destination are paid through the regular postman.

For monitoring of the service, an effective mechanism has been put in place where the Chief Postmasters General and Postmasters General in every Circle / Regional Headquarter get an e-mail alert through the system about the status of money orders not paid. Immediate corrective action is taken on any such pendency. The entire system is also monitored at the Postal Directorate in New Delhi on a day-to-day basis.

Akshay Rout/AG/NK/VK/spandey





Press Information Bureau
Government of India
*****
Preparations of Commonwealth Games, 2010 - an update

New Delhi : February 6, 2009

The work on the major stadia being constructed for Commonwealth Games, 2010 namely Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium, Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, National Stadium, Dr. S.P. Mukherjee Swimming Complex, Thyagraj Stadium, Sri Fort Stadium, Yamuna Sports Complex and R.K. Khanna Tennis Stadium is progressing as per schedule. The Time Lines for the various venues against monitorable milestones have been drawn up. These are monitored on a Web-based Monitoring System developed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. The targeted date for completion of these civil and electrical works is 31st December, 2009 while targeted date for completion of the Games Village and the Cycling Vellodrome is 31st March, 2010. The civil and electrical work of Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Ranges will be completed by October, this year. Work is continuing at a rapid pace at all the venues. Adequate budgetary arrangements have been made and fund flows have been ensured so that the work can proceed smoothly.
The work related to the interiors and installation of overlays will also be completed well before the Games as per the international practice. It is the practice in all countries, where sports infrastructure for major multi-disciplinary sporting event is created, that the completion of the works is phased in such a manner, that the stadia ready with the overlays a month or so before the Games, and not very much before, otherwise the facilities would get run down and need heavy maintenance costs.
The Games Village, which will house the 8000 athletes and officials is being developed by DDA at a site near Akshardham Temple on a Public Private Partnership mode. 40 per cent of the work has already been completed for the 1168 flats, which will be coming up in 34 Towers. A PIL has been filed in the High Court raising environmental issues. However, no stay from any Court exists on the work being done on the site. The progress of work is extremely satisfactory at the Games Village and the targeted date for completion that is 31st March 2010 which will be achieved.
Regarding preparation of players for the Games, a major Scheme for Preparation of Indian Teams for Commonwealth Games has been approved by the Government, costing around Rs. 678 crores, and the implementation of this scheme has commenced in right earnest. Under this scheme, a set of Core Probables have been selected for each sports discipline, who will be provided continuous training and exposure, under top level coaches both Indian and Foreign, right up to the Games in order to get the best performance during the Games. In each sport, around 3 times the number of sports persons, who will actually represent India during the Games have been selected in the Core Group, taking into consideration the current level of performance of these athletes, and the scope for their improvement. A total of 424 athletes will represent India in the 18 disciplines of the Commonwealth Games. Against these, a total of 1286 athletes have been selected in the Core Group, who will be given intensive training with full medical and scientific back up in preparation for the Games. Out of these, athletes with the highest level of performance till the Games will be selected to represent India. In all the sports discipline except Cycling, the training camps in India and abroad have commenced. The top level Indian and Foreign Coaches have been selected. The Calendar of training and completion has been prepared and the Centres for their training in India and abroad have been identified. The Sports Authority of India Centre are being upgraded and equipped with the latest scientific and backup arrangements. In respect of Cycling, there being management dispute in the Federation, the programme has not become effective. The matter is being pursued with the IOA to identify the core probables and draw up the programme of training and completion.

RM/AS/spandey


PIB Kolkata