'My Stamp' service gathering dust

CUTTACK: Response to the general post office's (GPO) novel initiative, 'My Stamp', as been far from encouraging. It was launched in March. Postal officials blamed it on inadequate manpower and lack of awareness about the facility among the public.

Sources said the service allows individuals to choose thematic postal stamp sheets and personalize them with their photograph or that of their friends. Corporate houses can also have their company logo embossed on the stamp.

"A person can approach the post office with a hard or a soft copy of the photograph or get themselves clicked at the head office at AG Square in Bhubaneswar," said in-charge of 'My Stamp' programme Basanti Chakra.

A sheet of 12 stamps costs Rs 300. Corporate houses are required to place a minimum order for 500 sheets. Artwork, heritage buildings, tourist places, animals and birds can also be imprinted on the stamp, which can be used as postage.

"Dearth of technical staff has proved to be an impediment in proper implementation of the facility. The photographs have to be superimposed on the stamps and prints of the sheet taken out," said Chakra.

The personalized stamps can be a boon for city philatelists if promoted properly. "People are getting a chance to put their favourite themes on the stamp, which sounds exciting," said Sushil Manohar Das, a stamp collector.

Senior superintendent of post offices (Bhubaneswar division) Aditya Nayak admitted that the service was not advertised properly.

"We will soon put up billboards at the GPO and other post offices across the state to make people aware of the initiative," he said.

Source: http://tinyurl.com/mzmcmw8