Dear Comrades,
The good old money order still in use in rural pockets just got
faster in 35 post offices in Pune division of the Department of Posts
(DoP). The department recently launched its quick, cellphone-based money
transfer service at these post offices in four districts. The service
will be operated by DoP with technological support from BSNL.
People wanting to send money using this mode of transfer will get
a unique PIN code. The sender will pass on the PIN to the recipient
through a text message. On the specified mobile number, the department
would also notify the receiver, who can receive the money at home, or at
the nearest post office on verification of the PIN received on his
mobile.
It will benefit, in particular, people in areas where banking
services have not yet reached. This service was launched in Pune and
Mumbai divisions on April 16. Earlier, the service was available in
Delhi, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and Jharkhand.
India Post is the largest service network for transfer of money orders with around 9 crore money orders sent every year.
The charges for mobile money transfer will be the same as for the
usual money order — five per cent of the remitted amount, a
spokesperson said. He said that to speed up money transfer, DoP had
introduced Electronic MO and Internet MO and mobile-phone-based MO was
the third such service.
The department would also introduce PO Savings Bank for which mandatory clearances were being sought.
In Pune division, some prominent post offices in Pune,
Ahmednagar, Satara and Solapur have been identified for the launch of
the service in the first phase. In the next phase, the remaining post
offices will be covered.
Special workshops were held by department in association with
BSNL authorities to train the postal staff to carry out operations. As
per procedure, the money is accepted from the sender at the originating
post office and provided to recipient at the destination post office.
Sender and recipient, through SMS, are notified about the transaction on specified mobile phones, said officials.
The BSNL has been providing mobile connections to designated
officials of the department of posts. Each post office is provided with a
mobile handset with pre-loaded application by BSNL's technology with a
secret PIN.
Indianexpress.com
