20 Oct : 1,55,035 Post Offices are functioning in the country (as on 31.3.2008) (Annexure I). Of these, 6637 Post Offices are functioning in rural areas of North Eastern Region (Annexure II).
In NER postal counter facility is not available in 34,774 villages However, postal facilities in terms of regular delivery of dak, collection of mail from letter- boxes and sale of stamps/stationery at the door- step of customers is provided throughout the country including the NER. Villages where Post Offices do not exist, are provided basic postal facilities through nearest existing post offices and other alternative means of providing postal services viz Panchayat Sanchar Seva Kendras (PSSKs).
Opening of new Post Offices throughout the country including the NER is an ongoing process. Post Offices are opened in a phased manner on the basis of need, justification as per prescribed norms and availability of resources.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia in a written reply to an un-starred question in the Lok Sabha today.