Deputy director-general of philately R.R.P. Singh takes a look at the stamps at general post office. Picture by Srinivas

Jamshedpur, April 23: Soon schools and colleges in the steel city would boast of philately clubs on their premises, thanks to the efforts of the postal department.

The state postal department has decided to start the Nehru Yuva Philately Club in various schools and colleges in Jamshedpur.

This will encourage youngsters and promote the art of studying stamps as a hobby.

This plan was announced during the inauguration of the modernised philately bureau at general post office in Bistupur today.

The chief guest of the programme, deputy director-general of philately, New Delhi, R.R.P. Singh said Nehru Philately Club is meant for children only and hence they have decided to open philately clubs in various schools and colleges.

“These clubs are very popular among students in several other states. Very soon, we would start these clubs in several parts of Jharkhand,too,” he said, adding that these clubs would help children take up the hobby seriously in future. Moreover, he said, each club would be provided with a blackboard and members would be given a free information kit and a philately depository account.

Officials at the postal department said that for holding a depository account, the club members would have to deposit Rs 200 annually.

“The account holders, would get newly released postal stamps including special covers and brochures. All these articles would be sent to the account holder’s house free of cost,” said a postal official.

The newly inaugurated air-conditioned philatelic bureau houses a rare collection of stamps and brochures. The stamps were based on several themes.

The announcement would be welcomed by all, hoped officials. “This bureau would help philatelists in the steel city. This will also encourage students to nurture this particular hobby,” said Singh.

A new post office was also inaugurated at Adityapur today.