FNPO-JPGU Joint Seminar in Visakhapatnam, India, examines issue of postal bank priviatization and financial inclusion, 22-23 March 2017

FNPO-JPGU Joint Seminar in Visakhapatnam, India, examines issue of postal bank priviatization and financial inclusion, 22-23 March 2017

The Japan Postal Group Union (JPGU) and Federation of National Postal Organization (FNPO) of India, with the support of UNI Apro, jointly organized a seminar on "comparative study on India Post Payments Bank and Japan Post Bank" at Palm Beach hotel, Visakhapatnam on 22nd and 23rd of March, 2017.

38 participants including 5 women from state secretaries of Group C and Andhra Pradesh state working committee members attended the seminar. JPGU was represented by Bro. Hitoshi Suma, Central Executive Officer of JPGU and Sis. Shiho Seguchi, a member of Women’s Forum, Kyushu Region. Sis. Kanako Osaki, Director of UNI Apro Post & Logistics coordinated the seminar.

Bro. Theagarajan, Secretary General of FNPO welcomed Mr. Sri T Ahmed Deputy Director General of India Post and he talked about India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) which was newly established in January this year and fully owned by India Post. On the 2nd day, Mr. Sri Sanjiv Ranjan, Post Master General of Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh state talked about what he expects from postal workers.

The seminar saw a fruitful exchange of experience and information. The local Indian participants had expressed concerns that the establishment of IPPB may lead to privatization eventually and this would affect their employment security and working conditions. The JPGU delegation shared their experience of Japan Post’s privatization and Bro. Theagarajan answered all the questions from the floor.

IPPB is set up on a lean operating model. It focuses on financial inclusion by harnessing low-cost technology based solutions to extend access to formal banking especially in rural areas and among unbanked segments of the society. The IPPB is expected to bring in a large number of individuals and small businesses into the formal banking channel offering deposits-savings account, direct benefits transfer, person to person remittances and distribution of third party financial products.On 21st March, 3017, the JPGU delegation and the FNPO team visited Visakhapatnam Steel Plant to study the biggest industry of Visakhapatnam. During the visit, they met with Bro. Sri Mantri Rajasekhar, General Secretary of INTUC and Visakhapatnam Steel Employees union. The delegation also visited General Post Office, a branch post office and a family of a part-time postal worker.