IT modernization Project 2012

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved IT modernization Project 2012 of Department of Posts in November 2012, with a total out lay of Rs 4909 Cr.

The key objectives of the IT project are as under.

1. Modernization and computerization of all Post Offices in the Country.
2. Establishment of IT Infrastructure, Viz., DAta Centre, Disaster REcovery Centre and Wide Area Network (WAN) based networking of the Departmental post offices, mail offices and administrative units;
3. Development of software applications covering all operations of the Department viz., Counter Operations, Mail Operations, Postal BAnking, Insurance, Finance and HR; and
4. Deployment of Rural Information Communication Technology (Rural ICT) solution in all the 1,30,000 rural Branch Post Offices in the country by supplying hardware and providing networking to them.

The entire Project is being implemented by the Department through 8 different segments. Details of each segment and the present status are furnished below.

Present Status of the IT Modernization Project as on 28-02-2017.

 

Sr. No.	Name of the segment & its scope	Present Position
1.	Change Management (CM):

Preparing the workforce for the complete change in Departments working after implementation of IT Project.

Actiities by VEndor completed Training activities are in progress by Department on its own.2.Data Centre FAcility (DCF): Hosting Primary Data centre and building Disaster Recovery centre for the DoPData Centre is operational from 3rd April 2013 at Navi Mumbai.

DRC has been powered on at Mysore on 15th May 2015.

3.Financial Services Integrator (FSI): Implementation of solutions for Core Banking and Core Insurance in all POst Offices.

Providing multiple delivery channels- internet banking, mobile banking, ATM and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) and SMS etc.

So far 23201 POs for CBS and 25406 Post offices for CIS (PLI) have been migrated. ATM Services- installed at 976 locations. ATMs are inter operable w.e.f. 31.12.2016.4.Network Integrator (NI) : Providing connectivity for each departmental post office location in order to ensure uninterrupted network connectivity through one single WAN.28260 locations have been net worked on a single Wide Network (WAN) and connected to Data Centre.5. Core System Integrator (CSI): Implementation of the solutions for Mail Operation, Retail, logistic Post, Philately, Finance and Accounts & Human Resources and integration with other SIs.Implementation started. E-mail roll out of staff and officers completed. Deployment of Antivirus and Active Directory as part of Wave 1 roll out is in progress. Pilot roll out completed in Mysore Division of Karnataka Circle. Further roll out in Pune in Maharashtra circle completed on 23-01-2017.6. Rural Hardware (RH): Providing connectivity, hardware & solar power panels to Branch Post Offices in rural areas.Supply of RH handheld devices is under progress. So far 27205  Main Computing hand held devices have been dispatched to Branch Offices of Six pilot circle viz. Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and UP and in Jharkhand, Telangana & Chhattisgarh in Phase-I7. Rural System Integrator (RSI): Implementation of the solution for  Integrating all the FSI/CSI applications to the Branch Post Offices.Roll out of RICT Solution is under progress. So far 14651 Rural Branch Post Offices have been rolled out as on 28-02-2017 in six pilot circles viz., Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and in Jharkhand, Telangana & Chhattisgarh in Phase-I8. Mail Operation Hardware (MOH): Providing hardware to Mail Offices and handheld devices to Postmen.Procurement of Mail Operations Hardware through DGS&D RC is in progress. Supply of Desk top computers completed. Supply of UPS, weighing scale and Gen sets is in progress and in its final stage. Procurement of Tag Prnters, Barcode Scannners and Postmen handheld devices is in progress.

 

Comparative statement about the progress made in the IT Modernization Project till May-2014 in February-2017 is as under.

 

Segment	Position in May, 2014	Position in February 2017
1. Change Management (CM)	Implementation started on 15-10-2012. Workshops and surveys partially comopleted viz., 2 cycles (out of 4) of change management workshops (CMW), Cycle 1 (out of 4) of change readiness survey and Ccle 1 (out of 4) stakeholder management completed.	All Workshops and surveys completed. Vendor activities are completed. It is an ongoing exercise with the implementation of various other streams of the Project. Training activities are in progress by Department on its own.
2. Data Centre Facilities (DCF)	Implementation started on 28-12-2012. Primary Data Centre started functioning on 03-03-2013.	Disaster Recovery Centre at Mysore was also powered on from 15-05-2015.
3. Financial Services Integrator (FSI)	Implementation started on 28-09-2012. POS migrated to CBS —- 236, PLI —- 389, ATMs installed —- 04	POS migrated to CBS —- 23201, PLI —- 25406, ATMs installed —- 970, ATMs are interoperable wef 31-12-2016, CPC started functioning in all 22 circles.
4. Network Integrator (NI)	Implementation started on 28-09-2012. No. of locations networked 21380	28260 locations have been networked under single wide area network (WAN) and connected to Data Centre.
5. Core System Integrator (CSI)	Implementation started on 15.04.2013. Installation and commissioning of Central Hardware completed. Detail design documents completed. Testing of common infrastructure solution completed.	Implementation is in progress. E-mail roll out of staff and officers completed. Deployment of Antivirus and Active Directory as part of WAve 1 roll out is in progress. Pilot roll out completed in Mysore Division of Karnataka Circle. Roll out completed in Pune in Maharashtra circle on 23-01-2017.
6.  Rural System Integrator (RSI) & Rural Hardware (RH)	Contract signed with selected bidder on 28-02-2013.	After tendering for the 3rd time, RH Tender finalized. Contract with Rural Hardware VEndro has been entered into on 24-11-2014.

RSI project has been kicked off on 05-05-2015 and RH Project kicked off on 19-06-2015.

Both the RH and RSI project under Rict are to go hand in hand.

7. Rural System Integrator (RSI) & Rural Hardware (RH)Supply of RH devices and roll out of RICT solution is under progress. So far 27205 Main Computing hand held devices have been dispatched to Branch Offices of Six pilot circle viz. Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and UP and in Jharkhand, Telangana & Chhattisgarh in Phase-I

Roll out of RICT Solution is under progress. So far 14651 Rural Branch Post Offices have been rolled out as on 28-02-2017 in six pilot circles viz., Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and in Jharkhand, Telangana & Chhattisgarh in Phase-I

8. Mail Operations Hardware (MOH)RFP was issued on 17.05.2013.

Letter of Intent was issued on 03-02-2014 to M/S HCL Info systems Ltd. Contract was not executed.

Procurement of Mail Operations Hardware through DGS&D RC is in progress. Supply o Desk top computers completed. Supply of UPS, weighing scale and Gen sets is in progress and in its final stage. Procurement of Tag Printers, BArcode Scaners and Postmen handheld devices is in progress.

 

The IT Modernization Project implementation in Department of Posts is a PAN India Project and on completion of its implementation,

IT Modernization key benefits to customers.

1. Improved customer satisfaction due to faster and more reliable services in mails, banking, insurance
2. Transparency in financial services by introduction of core banking and core insurance solution.
3. Multiple channels of access to the customers through Post Office counters, internet, moblies, call centers and ATMs etc.
4. Better financial inclusion for the common man in the rural and semi-urban locations through mobile remittances, mobile banking, mobile insurance etc.
5. Effective and transparent delivery of the social security and employment guarantee schemes of the Government.

2. Core Banking Solution

The Core Banking Solution (CBS) is part of the India Post IT Modernization project that aims to bring in various IT solutions with the required IT infrastructure to the Post Offices. Core Banking Solution (CBS) for providing ‘Anytime Anywhere Banking’ has been rolled out in 23201 Post Offices, covering more than 34.74 Crore Post Office Savings Bank accounts, whereas as on 31.05.2014 CBS was rolled out only in 236 Post Offices. 976 Post office ATMs have been installed across the country, whereas as on 31.05.2014 only 4 ATMs were installed.

3. Core INsurance Solution

In order to provide better service to clientele of PLI/RPLI a complete technology based solution for insurance service was statted in 2014. This system will result in improved after sales service, providing a fllip to efforts to provide greater financial security to eligible prpulation by increasing the number of insurants in PLI/RPLI. Core Insurance Solution has been rolled out in 25406 Post Offices.

4. India Post Payments Bank (IPPB)

Public Investment Board (PIB) has recommended the proposal of setting up of India Post Payment Bank (IPPB) with a total investment of Rs. 800Cr. over five years commencing from 2016-17. The India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has launched two branches in Raipur and Ranchi on 30-01-2017 which were inaugurated by Hon’ble Finance Minister and Hon’ble Minister of State (Communications), through video conference.

IPPB aims to catalyze financial inclusion in India, by ensuring that everyone has equal access to financial services, no matter who they are, what they earn and where they live. IPPB will take basic banking to the un-banked and the under-banked across all cross-sections of society. Beneficiaries will be able to access Direct Benefit Transer (DBT) payments like MNREGA wages, Pensions, Scholarships, etc. They will be able to pay utility bills, send or receive remittances instantly and economically from the same IPPB account that would also allow them to access loans and insurances from leading banks and insurance companies.

5. e-Commerce initiatives

• The Department has started augmenting the parcel booking and transmission capacities all over the country in order to tap the growing e-Commerce business, which has resulted in a substantial growth in the recent years.
• Department of Posts has rationalized its offering in Parcel segment and is positioning Speed Post as a premium product for eCommerce delivery solution.
• Tie-ups have been made with more than 1000 eCommerece players viz/ Naaptol, Amazon.in, Flipkart.com, Myntra.com, Snapdeal.com, etc. to provide distribution and Cash on Delivery collection till December,2016 is Rs. 1900 Cr.
• A pilot started with M/s Snapdeal.com (Jasper infotech Pvt. Ltd.) in Varanasi w.e.f. 25.12.2014 to provide a platform for online sale of merchandise of of Varanasi weavers so as to extend the benefit of e-Commerce to the small weavers etc.
• Department has introduced an automated Short Messaging Service (SMS) on the sender’s and addressee’s mobile (captured at the time of booking) intimating the arrival of article in delivery Post Offices and elivery status.
• The initiative to deliver the holy water from the Ganga at the doorstep of every Indian across the length and breadth of the country using the vast postal network has been launched. Post offices have also started selling pulses at subsidized rates to consumers.

6. Project Arrow

Project Arrow is an initiative to transform Department of Posts into a vibrant and responsive organization and to make a visible and positive differnece to quality and efficiency of service to the customer. It entails comprehensive improvement of the ‘core operations’ of the post offices as well as modernized ambience under ‘Look & Feel’ silo of the project.

7. Mail Network Optimization Project (MNOP)

As part of Mail Network Optimization Project, the online Track and Trace system for Speed Post and Registered mail has been developed to provide complete end-to-end tracking information on the website (www.indiapost.gov.in). Online tracking facility for parcels has also been introduced.

8. Mobile Money Transfer Service

Mobile Money Transfer is a service that enables instant money transfer from one place to another using mobile, through Indian post offices. The consumer just need us to have a mobile phone while the actual transmission of the money is initiated by the Postal Assistant, using his/her special handset. This service is a boon for those sections of our society who regularly remit money to their homes at faraway places and who have no access to any other financial instrument like bank account etc. expect mobile phone.

9.India Post Help Centre “1924”

In wake of the intiatives taken up by Hon’ble Prime Minister to bring transparency and accountability in the Government Department of Posts has established “India Post Help Centre” on 12th September, 2016 which can be reached through a Toll Free Number, 1924. This Helpline Number aims to assist the general public in the following manner:-

• Redressal of Public Grievances.
• Dissemination of information regarding various initiative. activities, schemes. programmes and projects undertaken.
• Feedback on the perception of the Department’s performance.

10. Mobile Applications through Android

India Post’s first Android Application-Post Info, is now ready for download. Cenre for Excellence in Postal Technology (CePT), Mysore has designed and developed this application. The basic functionalities provided by this application are tracking of goods, search any post office’s address or PIN anywhere in the country, postage, calculator, insurance premium calculator, sending electronic Money Order (eMO), Instant Money Order (IMO), etc., buy Philatelic products, Gangajal, etc.

11. ePost

ePost is unregistered hybrid mail provided for both retail as well as corporate customers providing electronic transmission of messaages which may include text messages scanned images, pictures etc and their delivery in hard copies at the destination through postman/ delivery staff. Presently, ePost booking facility is avaliable in more than 13000 post offices and are physically elivered through a network of more than 1.54 lakh Post Offices across India.

12. Kisan Vikas Patras (KVP)

KVP which was discontinuded with effect from 1st December 2011, was relaunched on 18 Nov 2014. A total of 25363578 KVPs were sold during 2015-16 with a deposit of Rs. 29825 crores and 3772195 KVPs were sold during 2015-16 with a deposit of Rs. 29825 crores and 3772195 KVPs were sold during 2016-17 upto Nov.2016 with an investment of Rs. 9488.48 crore.

13. Jan Suraksha Scheme

Jan Suraksha Scheme viz. Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojna (PMJJBY) were launched wef 07-09-2015 in all CBS Post Offices. These schemes are available to all Post Office Savings Account holders.

14. Sukanya Samridhi Accounts

Sukanya Samridhi Accounts, a new Small Saving Scheme for the welfare of girl child, was launched on 22nd January 2015. Under the scheme, a legal/ natural guardian can open only one account in the name of one girl child and maximum two accounts in the name of two different girl children up to 10 years from date of birth of he girl child. Till date, about 64 lakhs accounts have been opened with a total deposit of Rs. 8000 crores.

15. Production and Fulfillment Center

A Production and Fulfillment Center has been set up at DakBhawan, New Delhi to increase India Post’s revenue from Philately as a business stream for online sale of Philatelic products through e-postoffice, Shopclues and Snapdeal.

16. Swachh Bharat Mission

Under the Swachh Bharat Mission, special cleanliness drive has been undertaken in all postal establishments, which includes weeding out/ disposal of obsolete records/ furniture/ e-waste, etc., cleaning of surrounding of Post Offices, Postal Colonies, etc., tree plantation, construction of common toilets and lady toilets in Post Offices, improving Look and Feel of Post Offices, etc.

17. Social Media

Official FAcebook and Twitter page of the Department has been created to publicize and spread awareness on major initiatives of the Department. The comments and complaints on these platforms are reviewed and prompt actions are taken. The Facebook page has generated more than 1 lakh likes and twitter page has more than 33000 followers till date. Twitter Seva was inaugurated by Hon’ble Minister of State for communications (I/C) on 2nd August 2016. The social media complaints are time bound and are replied within 24 hours. Percentage of closure of complaints on Twitter Seva has been around 100%. Till 30th January 2017, the Department has resolved 17,825 complaints lodged on Twitter.

18. Philately

1. An android mobile application was launched by Philately Division for purchase of philatelic products directly online through android phones from e-post office. e-post office is an e-commerce portal for online purchase of Philatelic products and other major products sold by DoP. This app was uploaded successfully on 02/11/2015 on Google Play store.
2. An agreement with e-commerce giants viz. snapdeal&shopclues was entered on 04.08.2014 and 07.10.2015 reslpectively for making philatelic items available for sale on more e-commerce portals.
3. A production and Fulfillment Center was set up in Feb 2017 in DoP to cater the need of phialatelists across the country &to facilitate e-post office & e-commerce partners viz. snapdeal&shopclues. Customer grievances are solved telephonically and through emails.
4. Department has also introduced a new product called “Customized My Stamp” in Dec 2015. Vide Customized stamp corporate organizations and institutions can get their ogo printed on select my stamp themed sheets, alongside stamp may opt for logo, images of their organization/ Institute, photograph of hteir employee.
5. Crowd sourcing of Stamp-Design. The Department has been organizing Stamp Design Competitions thrice a year since 2015 on the occasions of Republic Day, Independence Day and Children’s since 2015 on the occasions of Republic Day, Independence Day and Children’s Day. These competitions have been eliciting huge response from people all over the country. Last such competition was held on the theme ‘Nature India’ on the occations of Republic Day 2017. The prize winning entries are considered for use as dsign on stamps and other Philatelic Material
6. New definitive postag stamp series ‘Makers of India & Yoga’ has been in place of previous series “Builders of Modern India”. A total of 28 stamps have been approved in “Maker of India & Yoga” series.

Achievements

In the year 2014-15 a total of 36 commenmorative postage stamps were released, in the year 2015-16  a total of 49 commemorative postage stamps were released and in the year 2016-17 (upto Feb 2017) a total of 128 commemorative postage stamps were released.

Revenue

Revenue generated by Philately Division on account of sale of philatelic stamps, my stamps & philatelic ancillaries is furnished below:

SI. No.	Financial Year	Revenue (in crore rupee)
1.	2014-15	32.85
2.	2015-16	39.87
3.	2016-17 (upto 28/02/2017)	47.34

Most Popular QnA related to IT modernization Project 2012 which are asked from Google.

Q1. Where is the primary data center of India Post?

Ans. Navi Mumbai

Q2. What does technology modernization mean?

Ans. the process of managing or moving away from old solutions and legacy systems

Q3. What was the cost of IT Modernization Project 2012?

Ans. Rs 4909 Cr.