The postal sector has got a 55 per cent jump in the outlay for 2009-10 at Rs 620 crore to carry out all-round development and repositioning of India Post through technology induction and entrepreneurial management.
The Budget at a Glance of the UPA government said 5,000 post offices are targeted for computerisation and networking. Also, 100 more branch offices, along with 50 sub-post offices, would be opened in 2009-10.
The government today announced that it plans to make post offices hub of financial services centres and as a move in that direction it plans to set up 100 financial marts and 500 franchise outlets.
In 2008-09, the revised estimate outlay for the DoP was Rs 400 crore.
"The aim is to effectively utilise network and reach for providing value added services through linkages with various agencies, organisations, specially for delivery of social security schemes," said the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee while announcing the Interim Budget.
The northeastern region is also poised to get a boost as out of the Rs 620 crore total outlay, Rs 62 crore would go to the region, he said.