Srinagar: India Post on Friday began National Postal Week celebrations, highlighting its financial inclusion initiatives, digital services, last-mile connectivity and export facilities for small businesses across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
National Postal Week is being observed from October 9 to 15, beginning with World Post Day, which commemorates the establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1874.
Addressing the media at the Srinagar General Post Office (GPO) Complex, Chief Postmaster General, Jammu and Kashmir Circle, Sagar Hanuman Singh, said the department had opened more than 17 lakh Post Office Savings Bank accounts in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said core banking, digital banking, electronic know-your-customer (e-KYC) facilities and India Post Payments Bank services, including doorstep banking, were helping expand access to financial services. He also highlighted the Sukanya Samriddhi Account scheme, which enables families to save for the financial future of girl children.
Singh said India Post’s extensive network continued to serve urban centres, rural villages, border areas and remote locations, including Doda, Kishtwar, Reasi, Rajouri, Gurez, Machil, Tetwal, Keran and Zanskar.
He said the department was modernising its operations through updated postal software, computerised services, tracking facilities and self-booking kiosks to improve customer convenience.
Its services include Speed Post, parcel and logistics facilities, Aadhaar enrolment and updation, Postal Life Insurance, Rural Postal Life Insurance and passport-related services through Post Office Passport Seva Kendras. India Post also supports government programmes by delivering kits under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) to artisans and other beneficiaries, he said.
Highlighting export facilitation, Singh said Dak Ghar Niryat Kendra provided exporters, artisans, craftsmen, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and small businesses with access to international markets through assistance with export documentation, customs clearance, packaging, booking and shipment tracking.
He said local products, including walnuts, saffron, handicrafts, carpets, Pashmina and handloom goods, could benefit from the facility by reaching customers in overseas markets.
Singh also cited a reported insurance claim settlement rate of 99 per cent under the department’s services.
The J&K Circle is also using commemorative stamps and special covers to highlight the region’s cultural and natural heritage.
According to Singh, of the 32 stamps highlighted by the circle, 18 feature Kashmir-related themes, four focus on Jammu, nine on Ladakh and one represents Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh collectively. The themes include the Chinar tree, Hangul, Pashmina, Kashmiri poet Mehjoor and Sindhu Darshan.
He encouraged the public to participate in the annual Dhai Akhar Letter Writing Competition, with October 31, 2026, set as the deadline for submissions this year.
Singh acknowledged the role of postal employees in maintaining public services and said the department was combining modern technology with its established network and reach to deliver postal, banking, insurance and other citizen-centric services across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
He said India Post remained committed to improving accessibility and service delivery, particularly in remote and border areas.
