Jamshedpur Nov. 9: Philatelists will not have to scan the internet or run to the nearest post office for the new postage stamps. The general post office, Bistupur has come up with a noble idea to help collectors and promote stamp collection as a hobby.

GPO has decided to start an account system for the philatelists of the steel city today.

The account system facility was inaugurated by director of postal services, Jharkhand, N.N. Sinha during a philately exhibition at the Tulsi Bhavan.

According to the postal department officials the account holders would be required to deposit Rs 200 to open an account.

After opening an account, whenever the postal department would introduce any postage stamp it would mail the information to the account holder at the cost of the department, officials said. “Philatelist will not have to scan the internet to watch on issue of new stamps,” they observed.

“Each time a stamp is delivered to the account holder, the cost would be deducted from his account automatically. The process will continue till the balance amount reaches to Rs 20,” said a senior post master Sitaram adding, that “When the balance touches Rs 20 the person would be informed through a letter to deposit another Rs 200 to continue with the account.”

Sinha said the decision to start the permanent account facility for the philatelist of the city was taken under the directives of directorate of postal services, government of India, to promote stamp collection.

Sinha asked the departmental officials to display a list of forthcoming releases of stamps on the notice board to inform the account holders and help them purchase stumps.