Thursday 17 December 2020

Accommodation report of officials on inter Circle transfer under Rule 38 in Odisha Circle

 Click Here to view

Wait list for Inter Circle Rule 38 Transfer for the next year ie,2021 (Vacancy year 2022)- Odisha

 Click Here to view (19 Pages)

Intra Circle Rule 38 Transfer memo of Odisha Circle (PA / Postman /MTS Cadre)

 Click Here to view (7 Pages)

Inter Circle Rule 38 Transfer memo of Odisha Circle (IP /PA/SA Cadre)

 Click Here to view (3 Pages)

Wait list for Intra Circle Rule 38 Transfer (IP/Stenographer/PA/SA/Postman/Mail guard/MTS) for the next year ie,2021 (Vacancy year 2022)_Odisha Circle

 Click Here to view (27 Pages)

Formal recognition of Yogasana as a competitive sport

 AYUSH

Formal recognition of Yogasana as a competitive sport

Yogasana as a sport would ensure competitiveness and enrichment of the discipline and its spread across the globe: Shri Shripad Naik

Yogasana will be introduced as a competitive sport in Khelo India , National and University Games: Shri Kiren Rijiju: Shri Kiren Rijiju

Posted On: 17 DEC 2020 4:37PM by PIB Delhi

The Ministry of AYUSH and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced the formal recognition of Yogasana as a competitive sport at a joint press conference held by the Union Minister of State (IC) for AYUSH Shri Shripad Naik, and the Union Minister of State (IC) for Youth Affairs & Sports Shri Kiren Rijjju in New Delhi today.

While addressing, Shri Naik traced the origins of Yogasana competitions to the Indian Yoga tradition, where such competitions have been held for centuries. He said that they are still being conducted today at multiple levels, but a strong and sustainable structure to impart national visibility to the competitions is yet to emerge. He further said that the Government decision to recognise Yogasana as a competitive sport comes after 3-4 years of wide consultations with the stakeholders of the Yoga sector.The Minister also said that Yogasana is an integral and important component of Yoga, which is psycho-physical in nature and popular across the globe for its efficacy in fitness and general wellness.

He further said “Yogasana becoming a sport will also ensure new technologies and new strategies being inducted into the disciplines, to benefit our athletes and officials towards building fruitful and fulfilling careers in this field”.

On this occasion, while addressing the media persons Shri Kiren Rijjju, said that the competitions that will arise out of the recognition of Yogasana as a sport will enhance interest in Yoga among people around the globe. He also said that both Ministries have been closely working together to establish Yogasana as a competitive sport. He further  said that we are planning to include Yogasana as a Sport discipline in Khelo India and in the University Games and we will also pitch it at the National Games  but the aim and objective of any sport is to be included in Olympics and this is a beginning of a long journey. Shri Rijiju also said that Yogasana is going to become a very beautiful, attractive and popular sport.

The Secretary AYUSH gave a presentation and explained that the sports discipline of Yogasana is likely to have 51 medals in 4 events & 7 categories. The proposed events for both men and women include Traditional Yogasana, Artistic Yogasana (Single), Artistic Yogasana (Pair), Rhythmic Yogasana (Pair), Free Flow/Group Yogasana, Individual All Round – Championship and Team Championship.

Secretary also informed the following steps or activities will form part of the road map and the future development of Yogasana Sport:

  1. A pilot Yogasana Competition named as “National Individual Yogasana Sports Championship (Virtual Mode) to be held in early 2021.
  2. Launching of an Annual Calendar of competitions, events and programs of Yogasana sport.
  3. Development of Automated Scoring System for the Yogasana Championship.
  4. Courses for Coaches, Referees, Judges and Directors of competitions.
  5. Coaching camps for players.
  6. Launch of a League of Yogasana, to ensure a career and social status for performers, experts and practitioners, to create Sports Stars among Yogasana athletes.
  7. To introduce Yogasana as a Sport discipline in National Games, Khelo India and international sports events.
  8. Steps to create job opportunities for Yogasana athletes.

Please Click here to see presentation


LDCE FOR PROMOTION TO THE CADRE OF PS GROUP B FOR THE YEAR 2017-18, 2018 AND 2019 HELD ON 29.11.2020 - PROVISIONAL ANSWER KEYS

 (CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW)

http://utilities.cept.gov.in/dop/pdfbind.ashx?id=5103

DISCONTINUATION OF PHYSICAL USAGE OF MR ACG11, 11(a) AND VOUCHERS ACG 12, 13 & 14 IN POST OFFICES - DIRECTORATE ORDER DATED 16.12.2020

 


MANDATORY UTILIZATION OF NETWORK OF BSNL & MTNL FOR INTERNET BROADBAND / LANDLINE / LEASED LINE BY ALL MINISTRIES / DEPARTMENTS

 


Wednesday 16 December 2020

Inspections of Administrative and Operative Offices



Counting of service rendered as Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) to make good the shortfall in minimum qualifying service of Group-D/MTS employees for grant of pension



 

Postal worker celebrated as a local hero

 During the Covid-19 pandemic postal workers have played an important role in keeping local communities connected, but one worker this year took her role one step further.



In November 2020, An Post’s Catherine Farrell, a postwoman in County Cavan, Ireland, was selected as one of the country’s ‘Inspirational Heroes’ as part of a competition hosted by Gala Retail and Virgin Media.
 
Farrell, who has been with An Post for 17 years, worked hard throughout the Covid-19 pandemic to bring joy and laughter to many local homes. But it was an event on Tuesday June 11, 2019 that really made her stand out. While out on delivery, she saved the life of an elderly customer being savaged by a dog. Without her intervention, the man would have almost certainly died.
 
“When I arrived at the house of Jimmy Thompson he was on the ground and a dog was viciously attacking him,” she explains. “I could tell instantly that an artery had been severed and I knew I had to act quickly before he bled to death.”
 
It was Farrell’s quick thinking that helped save Thompson’s life. “A neighbour was also there to help. I told him to grab a big stick. I used my green delivery tray as a shield and got close to Jimmy. I then swung it at the dog and the neighbour did the same with the stick. Eventually the dog let go and we quickly got Jimmy back into his house and called the emergency services.”
 
Thompson had been making his way back to his home after checking on his cattle when the attack happened. “Once in his house I put pressure on the wound until help arrived. Jimmy was airlifted to hospital where he spent seven months and had 13 operations. Thankfully he is back home now.”
 
Farrell believes responding to the incident in the way she did was “all in a day’s work” and is a modest hero. “I would’ve died that day to save that man’s life – by whatever means possible, I was going to get that dog off that man,” she says. “To be honest, I look at Jimmy as the real hero. I see him every day now, walking up his path and that makes me very happy.”
 
The dog attack incident wasn’t the first time Farrell played a part in saving someone’s life. Earlier in 2019 she helped a man out of a vehicle after it had skidded off the road in icy conditions and landed in a ditch.
 
Farrell is a key part of her community and supports residents in any way she can. “Being a postal worker is not just about delivering mail, it’s also about being there for everyone – both young and old,” she says. “I often take a few seconds out of my day to check in on people to see if there is anything they need. I help elderly customers write cards, post mail or with their washing.
 
“During Covid-19 I found that my role in the community became more important,” she continues. “I helped people by buying them milk and bread when they couldn’t get to the shops, for example. I get such a boost from helping people, because whatever I do for them I get back in leaps and bounds. I have received care packages during Covid-19 and notes thanking me for everything I am doing. 
 
“Some of my customers are very lonely and when I leave them I realise that they probably won’t see another person until I come back the next day. Therefore, it’s important for me to check they are okay. It gives me a boost to know they are safe and well,” she concludes.

India Post Payments Bank launches its digital payments’ services ‘DakPay’

 Ministry of Communications

India Post Payments Bank launches its digital payments’ services ‘DakPay’, aims to Transform Banking Experience at the last mile

DakPay is double strength of service offerings in the form of online payments and home delivery of financial services – Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad

Posted On: 15 DEC 2020 1:58PM by PIB Delhi

Department of Posts (DoP) and India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) unveiled a new digital payment app ‘DakPay’ at virtual launch event today. The App is launched as part of its ongoing efforts to provide Digital Financial inclusion at the last mile across India.

DakPay is not just a digital payment app but a suite of digital financial and assisted banking services provided by India Post & IPPB through the trusted Postal (‘Dak’) network across the nation to cater to the financial needs (‘Pay’) of various sections of the society – be it sending money to the loved ones (Domestic Money Transfers – DMT), Scan QR code and make payment for services/merchants digitally (Virtual debit card & with UPI), enabling cashless ecosystem through biometrics, providing interoperable banking services to the customers of ANY BANK (AePS) and Utility Bill Payment services.

At the launch event Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad appreciated India Post Payments Bank’s efforts during fight against Covid-19 by providing doorstep financial assistance through AePS leading to financial empowerment of the unbanked and the underbanked.

Announcing the launch of the “DakPay”, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister for Communications, Electronics & IT and Law &Justice said, “India Post stood the test of times by serving the nation through various postal services digitally and physically during nationwide lockdown. Launch of DakPay adds up to the legacy of India Post which is about reaching out to every household. This innovative service will not only give access to banking services and postal products online, but also is a unique concept where one can order and avail postal financial services at doorsteps. I strongly believe that this double strength of service offerings in the form of online payments and home delivery of financial services combined with nationwide network of Postal department will be another big leap towards Prime Minister’s vision of a financially inclusive and an AatmaNirbhar Bharat.

On the occasion, Shri Pradipta Kumar Bisoi, Secretary (Posts) & Chairman, IPPB Board said that, “Dak Pay brings simplified payment solutions to all by offering all customers access to the banking and payments products and services either through an App or in assisted mode with the help of the trusted Postman. Dak Pay is truly an Indian solution designed to address the financial needs of every Indian”.

“The unveiling of DakPay is a landmark achievement in IPPB’s journey and will further deepen comprehensive financial inclusion to bring forth the dawn of a ‘Truly Inclusive Financial System’. Our motto is  - Every customer is important, every transaction is significant and every deposit is valuable.” Said Mr. J Venkatramu, MD & CEO, India Post Payments Bank.

About India Post Payments Bank

India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has been established under the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communication with 100% equity owned by Government of India. IPPB was launched by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on September 1, 2018. The bank has been set up with the vision to build the most accessible, affordable and trusted bank for the common man in India. The fundamental mandate of India Post Payments Bank is to remove barriers for the unbanked & underbanked and reach the last mile leveraging the Postal network comprising 155,000 Post Offices (135,000 in rural areas) and 300,000 Postal employees.

IPPB’s reach and its operating model is built on the key pillars of India Stack – enabling Paperless, Cashless and Presence-less banking in a simple and secure manner at the customers’ doorstep, through a CBS-integrated smartphone and biometric device. Leveraging frugal innovation and with a high focus on ease of banking for the masses, IPPB delivers simple and affordable banking solutions through intuitive interfaces available in 13 languages.

IPPB is committed to provide a fillip to a less cash economy and contribute to the vision of Digital India. India will prosper when every citizen will have equal opportunity to become financially secure and empowered. Our motto stands true – Every customer is important, every transaction is significant and every deposit is valuable.

For further information on IPPB, visit www.ippbonline.com

Postal Department confers Meghdoot awards to Postal Employees for their achievements in 2019-20

 Ministry of Communications

Postal Department confers Meghdoot awards to Postal Employees for their achievements in 2019-20

The department signs MOU with CSC SPV to provide a one-stop solution for all e-Governance services on assisted model through its "Common Service Centres(PO-CSCs)" in Post Offices

DakPay logo was launched by India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) of India Post as part of its ongoing efforts to provide Digital Financial inclusion at the last mile

Posted On: 15 DEC 2020 6:04PM by PIB Delhi

Department of Posts conducted Meghdoot Award Function 2020 on December 15, 2020 in the Conference Hall of MeitY, Electronics Niketan, CGO Complex, New Delhi. The Function was graced by Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister of Communications, Law & Justice and Electronics & Technology as the Chief Guest and Shri Sanjay Dhotre, Minister of State for Education, Communications and Electronics & Technology as Guest of Honour. All the Chief Postmaster Generals and Meghdoot awardees were present in the function via video conference. The Meghdoot award is given every year for excellence in postal service. The meghdoot award 2019-20 was given in the following eight categories:

 

Category

Category details

Name & Designation of official (Sh./Smt./Ms.)

I

General category for GrameenDaksevak

KirtanNayak, GDS BPM, Mardakote BO, Kodala SO, Ganjam Division, Odisha Circle

II

General category for all employees at different levels

Balakrishna R., Driver Grade – I, MMS, Bengaluru

III

M D Srinivasan, PA, Chennai City Division & Marketing coordinator, Regional Office, Chennai City Region, Tamil Nadu Circle

IV

Sarwesh Kumar, SPM, Rajendra Nagar Post Office, Patna, Bihar Circle

 

V

Vinay Srivastava, Inspector Posts, Nowgong Sub Division, Chhattarpur Division, Madhya Pradesh Circle

VI

B S Chandrasekhar, SSPOs, Bengaluru East Division, Karnataka Circle

VII

Technology Excellence

V M Shaktivelu, Deputy Director, CEPT, Chennai

VIII

Best Woman Employee

Rinchen, Departmental Mail Runner, Hull-Phaldar Line, Rampur Bhushar Division, Himachal Pradesh Circle

 

In a major step towards providing the citizen centric services, a memorandum of Understanding was signed by Department of Posts with CSC e-Governance Services India Limited. This will give a flip to setting a common service centres in more than 10000 Post Offices across the country for providing various G2C (Government to Citizen) and B2C (Business to Citizens) services to citizens in rural and remote areas of the country thus enabling the Government's mandate of a socially, financially and digitally inclusive society.

 The B2C (Business to Citizens) Services offered includes Bharat Bill Payment System Bills (Electric, Gas, Water bills etc.). The services offered also included Third Party Services such as EMI (Equal Monthly Instalment) collections for various loans offered by financial institutions and submission of online application forms for loans.  Travel services such as Ticket booking service would be available for Flight, Train and Bus Tickets.

 Through this agreement, Department of Posts intends to provide a one-stop solution for all e-Governance services on assisted model through its "Common Service Centres(PO-CSCs)" in Post Offices.  These "PO-CSCs" will also contribute to ease of living and ease of business to the nearby digitally deprived rural and semi-urban population by leveraging the strengths of its network, digitally skilled manpower in synergy with digital services of CSC e-Governance Services India Limited.

In today’s function DakPay logo was launched by India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) of India Post as part of its ongoing efforts to provide Digital Financial inclusion at the last mile.

DakPay is a suite of digital financial and assisted banking services provided by India Post & IPPB through the trusted Postal (‘Dak’) network across the nation to cater to the financial needs (‘Pay’) of various sections of the society – be it sending money to the loved ones (Domestic Money Transfers – DMT), making payment for services/merchants digitally (Virtual debit card) & UPI, enabling cashless ecosystem through biometrics, providing interoperable banking services to the customers of ANY BANK (AePS) and Utility Bill Payment services.

DakPay UPI app allows users to create UPI ID and link multiple accounts across banks in a single mobile app. The app facilitates instant money transfers, QR based payments in merchant stores and online shopping on e-commerce websites.

Department of Posts also launched an eBook named “India Post meets Covid-19 Challenge” encapsulating the challenges faced and the solutions offered by India Post in the delivery of essential services to the remotest corner of the country during the ongoing pandemic in the country.

Addressing the function, the MOC congratulated the Awardees for the good work and exhorted the Department to strive and scale new heights. The union Minister expressed satisfaction at the rapid expansion of CSCs across the country and hoped that with the partnership of DOP and CSC-SPV this expansion would be escalated further and will help in delivering a number of citizen centric services across the country. The Minister hailed the launch of DakPay app as an important step in Digital Revolution and hoped that it will become an effective payment platform in competition with the best in the market. He expressed that just as AePS has brought banking services to the door step the DakPay will go a step further in providing ease of payment for various e-commerce and business activities. The Hon’ble Minister appreciated the good work done by the DOP in Covid-19 times and felt the DOP stood up the test. The welcome address was given by Secretary (Posts), Pradipta Kumar Bisoi and vote of thanks was proposed by Director General, Postal Services, Vineet Pandey.

Reimbursement of cost of 'Pulse Oximeter' for the family of COVID-19 positive CS (MA) beneficiaries



 

Tuesday 15 December 2020

Congratulations to the Meghdoot Award 2020 winners

Hearty congratulations to all the winners of  India Post Meghdoot Award 2020 presented on 15th December, 2020. 

NFPE Odisha  wishes them all the best for their future endeavour.









Friday 11 December 2020

Tribute to Com. K G Bose, former President of NFPTE


 11th December 2020 is the 46th death anniversary of Com. K.G. Bose, the dynamic leader of the P and T and Central Government Employees. He was a former President of NFPTE as also former President of All India Postal Employees Union Class III. He was elected as an M.L.A. of W. Bengal Assembly and appointed as a Member of the Pay Commission for State Government Employees.

Comrade K.G.Bose was one of the most inspiring leaders in the Central Government and P&T Employees’ Movement. His specialty rests on the fact that he never hesitated to take up the ideological fight against any wrong concepts in the movement. He strived to organize the P&T masses in the struggle line in order to achieve many impossible things. In fact it was K.G.Bose among some top leaders of eastern India who successfully campaigned amongst the Group C employees to join the strike call issued by Comrade Dalvi for the historic 20 days Postman Strike in 1946. When the other employees of the P&T were simply watching the nationwide strike of Postman and Group D, in the eastern parts of the country including West Bengal the entire movement of P&T rallied to make the strike a united one. 

The role played by Comrade K.G.Bose in that endeavour speaks volumes about his caliber. Later when the “12th July movement” was founded to launch the united movement of Central and State Government and all Public Sector and Private Sector employees in West Bengal by some leading pioneers of trade union movement, we could find Comrade K.G.Bose in the lead. His beautiful arguments before the Third Central Pay Commission highlighting our issues can never be forgotten. His sagacity and in-depth knowledge were the prime reasons when he was appointed later as the Pay Commission Chairman by the West Bengal Government!

Comrade K.G.Bose started his career as a P&T employee and in fact he was the first Employee Leader to be elected to the highest post of “President” of NFPTE in 1969 in the Vijayawada Federal Council defeating a sitting member of Parliament! Along with Comrade A.S.Rajan of Tamilnadu he established that the P&T movement could be led by P&T workers themselves. 

Comrade K.G.Bose will be ever remembered by the movement for his dedicated role to defend the trade union democracy in a very big movement like the NFPTE at a time when the organization met with a vertical split. Braving the attacks of the Government he toured the length and breadth of the country to influence thousands of trade union workers to stand upright and fight for trade union democracy. The movement was really unlucky to lose such a leader very quickly to the nature at his age of 54 when Comrade K.G.Bose was affected by cancer. He lost his life in the year 1974 after an unsuccessful medical treatment in a London Hospital.

His words “We cannot be a party to any proposal which may be considered as surrender of the principled stand by the common workers” are greater than any valuables in our life. His doctrine, his quotes, his life – all are lessons to every honest trade union worker for all times to come. His one of the famous quotes “Unite Organizationally; Fight Ideologically; and function Democratically” is reverberating in our ears even today. It was Comrade K.G.Bose who taught us that Organization is very important for us but Democracy is far more important in that organization while we don’t hesitate fights on ideological grounds without breaking the organization and the unity of workers. 

Golden advice from a golden leader Comrade K.G.Da!

Let us remember Comrade K.G.Bose and take a vow that we shall follow all his advices on our Organization  and stand for the unity of the  entirety of the working class of India and World! 

Long live Comrade K.G.Bose in our memory! Long live Comrade K.G.Bose in the history of P&T and CG Employees movement!

On his 46th death anniversary, NFPE , Odisha pays its respectful homage .

RED SALUTE TO COM.K.G.BOSE!

INTRODUCTION OF THE SYSTEM OF DROP BOX FOR DEPOSITING CHEQUES IN POST OFFICES

 

CHANGE OF ROLES OF SBCO



Central Government Employees Group Insurance Scheme- 1980 - Tables of Benefits for the saving fund for the period from 01-10-2020to 31-12-2020

 Click here to view

Clarification regarding admissibility of Transport Allowance during Nation-wide Lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic.



 Link : http://utilities.cept.gov.in/dop/pdfbind.ashx?id=5076

Revised Tariff of International EMS (Speed Post)


 Click Here to view the complete Gazette Notification (10 Pages)

India Post Releases Special cover on Human Rights Day

 Ministry of Communications

India Post Releases Special cover on Human Rights Day

Posted On: 10 DEC 2020 4:01PM by PIB Mumbai

 

India Post, Maharashtra Circle released a special cover on 'human rights', today, 10th December 2020 on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, in Mumbai. The special cover was released in the presence of Chief Postmaster General, Maharashtra and Goa State, Shri Harish Chandra Agrawal and Postmaster General, Mumbai Region, Ms Swati Pandey. This initiative is to create public awareness and also ensure equality, cooperation, peace and universal respect among people.

Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December — the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948. The UDHR is a document that proclaims the inalienable rights which everyone is entitled to as a human being - regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Available in more than 500 languages, it is the most translated document in the world.

Eligibility for Opening of SCSS Account


 

Conducting of Aptitude Test for Saving Banks/ Saving Certificate branches of Post Offices to be held on 24.01.2021 (Sunday)




 

Friday 4 December 2020

Revision of Tariff of International EMS (Speed Post) & Gazette Notification thereto


 Click Here to view the Gazette Notification (10 Pages)

Department of Posts decides to deliver Sabarimala ‘SwamyPrasadam' to devotees across the country at their doorstep

 Ministry of Communications

Department of Posts decides to deliver Sabarimala ‘SwamyPrasadam' to devotees across the country at their doorstep

The service gets tremendous response from public; Around 9000 orders booked till date

Posted On: 01 DEC 2020 5:49PM by PIB Delhi

Department of Posts has decided to deliver Sabarimala ‘SwamyPrasadam' to devotees across the country at their doorstep. Keeping in view devotees across the country, Department of Posts conceptualized and developed a comprehensive booking and delivery package for the delivery of “Swami Prasadam” of Sabrimala Temple at the doorstep of the devotees using the vast network of postal department covering every nook and corner of the country. Kerala Postal Circle entered into an agreement with Travancore Devaswom Board for this purpose creating a tailor made product. The devotees can now book the Swami Prasadam from any post office in India by paying only Rs. 450/- (Four hundred and Fifty) for each packet of prasadam. The packet contains one packet of Aravana, AadiyaSishtam Ney (ghee), Vibhooti, Kumkum, Turmeric and ArchanaPrasadam. A devotee can book upto ten packets at a time. As soon as Prasadam is booked under speed post, a message with the speed post number will be generated and intimated to the devotee via SMS. The devotee can track the movement of the Prasadam by logging in to India Post website.

This service was launched all over India with effect from 6th of November 2020. There has been tremendous response from the public for this service. Around 9000 orders have already been booked all over India till date and the same is increasing day by day. 

Sabarimala temple has been opened to the devotees, for this year’s “Mandalam season pilgrimage” from 16th November, 2020. Due to the prevalent COVID -19 pandemic situation the pilgrims had to follow strict protocols for visiting the shrine. Only very limited number of devotees were allowed per day to visit the shrine this season. A substantive number of devotees were not able to fulfil the COVID protocols for getting the darshan of Lord Ayyappa due to the strict restrictions imposed for pilgrimage during this season.

UPU’s blockchain project brings philately into the digital world

 Under its .POST Group (DPG), the UPU has launched a new blockchain project aiming to create a digital marketplace to host, trade and track crypto-stamps.



The project is sponsored by STAMPSDAQ, which became a private sector member of the DPG in October 2020. STAMPSDAQ is a start-up venture dedicated to creating, developing and operating a digital stamps marketplace, which will use blockchain for transactions, such as the issuing, trading, collecting and payment of crypto-stamps. 
 
Paul Donohoe, manager of the Digital Economy and Trade program at the UPU, and secretary of the DPG crypto-stamp working group, says, “The project was launched in November following significant interest from the private sector to work with the UPU on developing blockchain solutions. STAMPSDAQ will be working together with members of the DPG to launch the unified digital marketplace for crypto-stamps and philately.” 
 
One of the main aims of the UPU’s DPG, which currently has around 40 members from posts and private companies from around the world, is to promote the innovation and integration of digital postal services. “The crypto-stamp project is a perfect fit for this group,” adds Donohoe. “It really will be a truly global approach, and this is where blockchain has real benefit. Its value is in bringing different parties together in a transparent and secure environment under .POST.” 
 
The work group has already held two virtual meetings to discuss the use of blockchain, crypto-stamps and the benefits of a global marketplace. A work plan has been established, and over the next 9 months STAMPSDAQ will work closely with the group’s members to understand everything related to the issue of digital crypto-stamps.  
 
“The work plan covers three main areas,” explains Donohoe. “First the group will work on the technical building of the blockchain for the crypto-stamps and setting up the unified marketplace. Second, there will be some policy and legal issues to address as this is a global platform for all UPU members, so we need to have the right UPU framework in place to ensure the blockchain is secure for all postal members. The third part of the plan is the creation of the first crypto-stamp and the posts beginning to load their own crypto-stamps on to the marketplace.”  
 
According to Donohoe, the aim is for the cryptostamps.post marketplace to go live in summer 2021 in conjunction with the 27th Universal Postal Congress in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire to be held in August.  
 
“We have had a lot of interest from members already, with more than 40 experts from 23 member states joining the work group meetings so far, bringing their expertise ranging from blockchain platforms, philately through to postal operations,” Donohoe explains. “One of the most interesting aspects of this project is that blockchain enables people to track the origin, authenticity and the current ownership of a crypto-stamp, therefore creating fully traceable digital collectables for the postal sector.
 
“The postal sector represents one of the oldest collectable industries, but the crypto-stamp marketplace is opening up postal collectables to a whole new group of people, and introducing them to the digital world,” Donohoe adds.
 
Blockchain has proven its worth in many different industries around the world as a secure framework for managing transactions. In the postal industry, many operators are experimenting with the technology to see how it can benefit them. “The Tunisian Post, for example, was one of the earliest to explore blockchain applications. Its e-dinar service uses blockchain technology to manage financial transactions within Tunisia. The unique thing about the DPG blockchain crypto-stamp platform, however, is that it is a global platform for all countries to utilize. 
 
“Aside from bringing together the digital millennials and the postal operators, it is hoped that the crypto-stamps and the marketplace will help support the growth and accessibility of the postal sector, and lead to other blockchain projects through the UPU,” Donohoe concludes.    
 
The UPU .POST Group is a forum for member states, their postal operators and private sector organizations to work together toward the digital transformation of the postal sector and adoption of the .POST domain. Thanks to the .POST cybersecurity framework, internet solutions can be made available in a safe and secure environment for all UPU members regardless of their level of economic and technical development. For more information on the work of the .POST Group please visit: https://www.upu.int/en/Universal-Postal-Union/About-UPU/Cooperatives-Boards/-POST-Group