6 Features Of RICT Handheld Device Everybody Should Know
As a pilot phase Department of Post has started using solar
powered, biometric hand-held devices in rural post office with connectivity
along with the application software in selected circles viz. Bihar, UP and
Rajasthan. This move was the outcome of Rural ICT project declared by the
Government of India.
Following re the important features or benefits of Hand-held
device supplied to Branch Post Offices.
1. Electronic transactions- Booking and delivery of Speed
Post, registered mail, money orders, sale of stamps and postal stationery will
be done through these devices and paper receipt shall be generated
2. Instantaneously thereby eliminating chances of overcharging
and other problems associated with manual transactions. Savings Bank deposits
& withdrawals, PLI/RPLI premium deposits and loan/claim payments will also
be done electronically on these devices.
3. Immediate uploading of transaction data and financial
reconciliation- Using mobile connectivity, data pertaining to all transactions
done on the hand-held devices shall be uploaded onto the central server.
E-Money order will reach the destination post office instantaneously unlike
present day where the money order is digitized at the nearest computerized Post
Office and leads to delay in delivery. All financial transactions shall also be
reconciled immediately without any manual intervention and Cash on Delivery
amount collected in the village shall be immediately credited to the account of
e-Commerce Company. Similarly the artisans would be able to fulfill e-commerce
orders and receive immediate payment for their sold products online. This will
have a positive impact on the overall economy of the villages.
4. Automatic track and trace- Speed Post and Registered
letters/parcels and money remittances will be trackable at the Branch Post
Office level and booking/delivery information will also be uploaded to central
server immediately.
5. Fraud and leakage elimination- As Savings Bank and Postal
Life Insurance transactions will be done on a real-time basis and through
immediate generation of receipt and voice message, chances of fraud would be
eliminated. Biometric authentication of MNREGS and social security
beneficiaries at the time of pay-out would also reduce leakage in the schemes
6. Post Offices as Common Service Centres- Branch Post
Offices shall be able to work as Common Service Centres and offer services such
as Railway Reservation, online bill payment for electricity and water
utilities, mobile and DTH recharge, insurance policy premium payments &
transactions for partner banks/insurance companies/mutual funds etc,.
Courtesy: IPASP