Dear Comrades,
JAIPUR: After delivering goods of e-tailers, the India Post will now sell mobile phones to push its drive for Digital India. Costing just about Rs 1,999, the Penta cell phones will be available at specific counters.
The phone comes with 1,999 minutes of free talk time from BSNL over a period of 18 months. Available with a replacement warranty of one year, the handset will have all basic features.
According to the officials, the initiative is in line with Digital India. As per the arrangement, India Post and BSNL have entered into an agreement with Pantel Technologies Private Limited to sell Penta Bharat Phone PF 301 through the post offices, an official said.
"After successful launch in various other states, the Penta mobile phones are available in Rajasthan too. We have not set any target for but expecting to sale minimum of 5,000 sets by the end of this month," said D K S Chauhan, chief postmaster general, Rajasthan.
To start with, these phones will be sold in all the head post offices and some other major post offices in the state. The initiative will cover other post offices also in due course.
Penta PF 301 is a keyboard-operated phone that has features like 2.8-inch screen, dual-sim functionality, FM radio, audio player, torch, and camera, and internet connectivity.
Along with this, the India Post in Rajasthan is also planning to expand its services of delivering goods of e-retailers in other cities too. At present, the postal department is facilitating services in selected circles of Jaipur. In cities like Ajmer, Jodhpur, Kota and Bikaner, the delivery is expected to start by the end of the current financial year.
"There has been good response so far. The number of packages has increased and we dedicated two vans for it. The postmen too have been given motorbikes and carry bags to handle the consignment," added Chauhan.
The department is also strengthening its core banking solution (CBS). Under this, the post office ATMs which are functional in 13 places will soon increase to 64.
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