Chief postmaster-general of Jharkhand Shashi Shalini Kujur on Thursday released the state's first maxim card, themed on flora and fauna, to mark the National Philately Day.

Speaking on the occasion, Kujur explained that a maxim or maximum card is a picture postcard with a valid postage stamp affixed on the view side and a postmark.

"The maxim card is popular among those who have a hobby of collecting stamps. Philatelists draw pride from displaying them in exhibitions. It can also be sent as a greetings card. Each card costs only Rs 5," Kujur said, adding they were releasing this postal product to promote philately in Jharkhand.

Kujur maintained that social media sites and applications had brought about a paradigm shift in hobbies among adolescents.

"When you communicate with friends and family on Facebook, you don't need to use or collect stamps and postal cards. But, stamps are a window to our history and that of the world. We want today's generation to know about their past. Hence, we decided to release the maxim card to revive a dying hobby," she said.

On the postal department's other plans to promote stamp collection, Kujur said exhibitions were regularly being organised in schools.

"A philately fair was organised at Jawahar Vidya Mandir in Shyamali Colony today (Thursday) while another will be organised in Daltonganj from tomorrow (Friday). We are doing these for the first time too. In the future, more exhibitions will be held across schools and colleges," she added.

Currently, there are around 5,000 stamp collectors in the state. There are also four philately bureaus and nine philately counters.

Demonstration

Members of All India Postal and RMS Pensioners' Association on Thursday sat on a dharna outside the office of the chief postmaster-general in Doranda and submitted a nine-point charter of demands. The protesters primarily want issuance of pension payment order within a month of retirement and immediate clearance of dearness allowance.