nAre e-mails affecting postal services in the Northeast? Is there a decrease in the volume of letters and telegrams?

Radhika Baruah,

Tinsukia

E-mail is used by a limited number of computer-literate people because both the sender and receiver require computers. Hence, the people in the Northeast still depend on the traditional postal service. There has been no perceptible decrease in the volume of letters. The telegram traffic is handled by the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited and not by the department of posts.

nHow do you access remote areas, especially the hill districts of the region?

Jaya Rabha,

Barpeta

Our department has a wide network of post offices covering the entire region. There is a detailed network of mail transmission that connects an individual to any person in the world.

In this network, the transmission of mails is done through airways, railways, roadways and waterways. Our carriers even use bicycles and rickshaws and sometimes travel on foot, depending on the terrain, to deliver the mails.

nHow successful has been the newly-introduced e-post service?

Mini Bhattacharya,

Guwahati

The e-post service, at present, has been launched in a few select post offices in Assam. This service will provide e-mail services even to those senders or receivers who do not have computers.

Very soon, we are going to launch e-posts service in each and every district headquarters of Assam.

nThe philately wing of your department is accused of doing nothing to promote it as a hobby among the young people. Do you organise awareness camps to generate interest in philately?

Chandan Mahanta,

Shillong

Philately has now been included in the Five-Year Plan. We are taking all possible steps to popularise it through advertisements, media conferences and press releases.

This year, we will hold small exhibitions as well as philatelic workshops in several schools after their annual examinations.

There are plans to organise more exhibitions and workshops at the district level. This will help create awareness on philately.

Recently, we had discussed this issue at media conferences in Guwahati and Dibrugarh.

nDoes your department have any plans to include the flora and fauna of the region in stamps?

Amman Ali,

Dibrugarh

The Northeast has already been represented adequately in the philately stamps. Not only personalities, but also flora and fauna and cultural themes of the region has found place in the stamps issued by the department.

Q:Though the prices of postcards and envelopes have increased, there has been no significant change in their quality. Why?

Sahana Waheed,

Mirza

A:The prices of postcards and envelopes have not increased manifold. It has not even kept pace with the inflation in the country. Any change in the design or quantity of postcards and envelopes is decided by the Union ministry.