There was traditional runner service between Dzongs in existence in Bhutan for several years.
In 1962 a regular Postal Service was established in Bhutan and postage stamps were issued for the first time. The first post office was opened in Phuntsholing followed by Paro in the same year and by Thimphu in~ 1963. But service was restricted to despatch and deli- very of unregistered mail only. ln all other places the runner service under the Civil Administration continued to function
The Postal adviser was appointed in 1964 and the programme for development of the Postal Services was incorporated into the plan from February, 1965.
During the First Plan, 15 departmental post offices and three extra departmental post offices were established. Bhutanese personnel were also selected and trained for manning the new post offices. A fleet of vehicles was organised to operate the mail services.
Construction of departmental buildings at Phuntsholing and Thimphu as well as in the interior at Tashigang and Wangdiphodrang was commenced.
Steps were also taken for evolving a sound philatelic programme.
During the First Plan period arrangements were made for the acceptance of registered mail for despatch to lndia through Indian Post Offices, on an informal footing. The Bhutan post offices are accepting registered mail at the owner's risk and arranging for it to be taken to Indian Post Offices for registration levying an additional charge for the purpose. Similar arrangements exist for despatch of Money Orders.
In the Second Plan, it is proposed:
(1) to spread the postal facilities further by establishing post offices at all the Dzongs and Sub Divislonal Headquarters.
(2) to improve the carrier strength by supplementing the present fleet of vehicles to bring the operating strength to at least 20 at any time (for this purpose provision has been made for the purchase of 19 vehicles which will include replacements for worn out vehicles of the existing fleet of 15).
(3) to take over completely, the runner services at present operating between the Dzongs and operate them on a more regular and organised footing.
In addition at various post offices, it is proposed to provide regular facilities for parcel, insurance and V. P. P. services on a proper basis and to enter into suitable arrangements with the Govt. of India for transmission of such mail under Bhutan postage.
Department ............. Postal
Scheme No. ............. I
Name of the Scheme ..... Direction
Proposed Outlay ........ Rs. 5.65 lakhs
In the Second Plan the organisational set up envisaged is of a Director (Postal Adviser) in charge of the Department with a Divisional Superintendent of Post Offices, in charge of the postal operations, a Divisional Engineer, Telephones and Telegraphs and in charge of the Telephone net work, which is to be taken over from the Border Roads Organisation, and an Officer in charge of the Philatelic Branch.
The staffing pattern proposed for Headquarters is:
Director (Postal Adviser) ..... 1
Stenographer .................. 1
Office Assistant .............. 1
Upper Division Clerks ......... 2
Lower Division Clerks ......... 2
Class IV Staff ................ 2
In addition an accounts organisation with one Accountant, three Accounts clerks and one Peon under the direct control of the Director has been envisaged.
The Executive staff of the three divisions has been catered for separately.
Provision has also been made for contribution to the U. P. U. to which Bhutan ha already applied for membership under sponsorship of Government of India and for an ex-penditure on attendance of Conferences organised by the U. P. U.
Detailed breakup of the expenditure on the Director's Headquarters is in Vol. No. II.
Department ............. Postal
Scheme No. ............. II
Name of the Scheme ..... Executive Staff for the Postal Services
Proposed Outlay ........ Rs. 3.07 lakhs
With the larger number of post offices contemplated and the increased facilities such as Registration, Money Orders and V. P. P. services, as well as the expanded scope of the carrier service both by vehicles and runners, it is necessary to have direct executive super- vision. For this purpose it is proposed to set up an executive organisation under a Divisional Superintendent with four Sub Inspectors and limited clerical staff.
The staff proposed is :
Superintendent ............... 1
Assistant Superintendent ..... 1
Sub lnspectors ............... 4
Clerical Staff ............... 6
Class lV Staff ............... 4
Note: Vehicles both for the Superintendent and Directorate are included in the over- all requirement of vehicles shown in the separate scheme.
Detailed break up of the expenditure is given in Vol. No. II.
Department ............. Postal
Scheme No. ............. III
Name of the Scheme ..... Existing Post Offices
Proposed Outlay ........ Rs. 7.04 lakhs
There are at present 21 post offices which were established during the First Plan. It is proposed to increase their activities under the separate scheme for registration, insurance parcel and V. P. P. services.
The present strength of the staff overall is:
Postmasters ........ 21
Postmen ............ 4
Class IV Staff ..... 15
In the Second Plan provision has been made for adding 17 Class lll staff (Postmasters), one postman and 6 Class lV staff to cope with the increasing loads.
Detailed break up of the expenditure is in Vol. No. II.
Debarment .............. Postal
Scheme No. ............. IV
Name of the Scheme ..... Establishment of new Post Offices
Proposed Outlay ........ Rs. 1.52 lakhs.
Under the Second Plan, it is proposed to open 1 new departmental Post Offices at:
Chenmari, Deothang, Kalikola, Dorokha, Doong, Gasa, Shemgang, Lingsi, Chapcha, Yangshi, and Tala.
In the Second Plan period these will be manned by a single Postmaster and no other staff will be provided.
The additional post offices are being established with a view to having regular post offices at every Sub Divisional Headquarters in Southern Bhutan and Dzong Headquarters in Northern Bhutan.
Detailed break up of the expenditure is given in Vol. No. II.
Department ............. Postal
Scheme No. ............. V
Name of the Scheme ..... Extra Departmental Post Offices
Proposed Outlay ........ Rs. 19,030.
It is proposed to open 11 extra departmental post offices mainly to cater to our establishments in remote areas. For these extra departmental post offices one of the local officials will be appointed as Postmaster and given a nominal allowance of Rs. 40 per month.
Detailed break up of the expenditure is given in Vol. No. II.
Department ............. Postal
Scheme No. ............. VI
Name of the Scheme ..... New Service
Proposed Outlay ........ Rs. 31,000.
In the Second Plan, it is proposed to introduce registered parcel, insurance and V. P. P. services.
No additional staff is necessary for this purpose. Provision has only been made for the initial expenditure on printing of forms and purchase of some equipments, such as balances and safes.
Detailed break up of the expenditure is given in Vol. No. II.
Department .. ... ... Postal
Scheme No. ... ... ... ..VlI
Name of the Scheme ... ... ... Philatelic Service
Proposed Outlay ... ... ... Rs. 3,12,944.
In order to organise the Philatelic service on a sound footing a separate unit is being created under Philatelic Officer. We have at present an arrangement under which Bhutan Stamps Agency Ltd. (an American Firm with Headquarters at Behamas), print four com-memorative issues a year on our behalf.
The stamps issued during the past couple of years have been extremely popular and have been an important source of revenue. lt is proposed to continue this arrangement for the present. But the Philatelic unit has been set up to organise the sale and advertisement of the issues to come out, as well as prepare designs for new issues and first day covers, folders etc.
The contract with the Bhutan Stamp Agency is upto 1969. The Philatelic unit is being organised to be abe to take over the entire responsibility at the end of this period if necessary.
The staff proposed for the Philatelic unit is:
Philatelic Officer ....... 1Detailed break up of the expenditure is given in Vol. No. II.
Department ............. Postal
Scheme No. ............. VIII
Name of the Scheme ..... Carriage of Mails by Vehicles
Proposed Outlay ........ Rs. 11,62,000.
We have at present 15 vehicles, many of them decrepit for the carriage of mails. With the improvement of roads and increased milage available as a result of road construction programmes, further extension of this service is considered necessary.
It is proposed to purchase 19 vehicles in the Second Plan for the expansion, as well as, for replacement of the existing Vehicles. lt is hoped with these 19 vehicles, that a fleet of 20 will always be in operation.
This includes the vehicles for the Director, Divisional Superintendent of Post Offices and Divisional Engineer, Telephone and Telegraphs.
Detailed break up of the expenditure is given in Vol. No. II.
Department ............. Postal
Scheme No. ............. IX
Name of the Scheme ..... Runner Services
Proposed Outlay ........ Rs. 4.20 lakhs.
From early times there has been a traditional runner service under the control of the Dzongs. With the inception of the Postal Service, it was felt that runner service should be taken over and carriage of mails put on a regular and organised footing.
In the First Plan 27 runner routes were organised. ln the Second Plan, it is proposed to take over the remaining 33 runner routes with effect from the second year.
No staff apart from the runners will be required for the purpose.
Detailed break up of the expenditure is given in Vol. No. II.
Department ............. Postal
Scheme No. ............. X
Name of the Scheme ..... Training of Postal and Philatelic Staff
Proposed Outlay ........ Rs. 36,720.
During the Second Plan period, it is proposed to train one officer as Superintendent of Post Offices by attaching him to similar officers in India for 10 months.
Similarly four Sub lnspectors, 15 Postmasters, one Philatelic Assistant, three Philatelic Clerks and three Accounts Clerks will be sent for short training and attachment in India.
Detailed break up of the expenditure is given in Vol. No. II.
Department ............. Postal
Scheme No .............. XI
Name of the Scheme ..... Telephone Services
Proposed Outlay ........ Rs. 12,55,924 (Say Rs. 12.56 lakhs)
Telephone Exchanges have been installed at Thimphu, Paro and Phuntsholing and are being installed in Tashigang, Wangdiphodrang, Ha, Sambrup Jongkhar and Deothang. As the exchanges are completed, it is proposed that the Government of Bhutan would take them over.
Provision has been made for taking over these eight exchanges in the next five years.
The staff proposed is:
Divisional engineer ........ 1
Engineering Supervisor ..... 2
Telephone Operators ........ 30
Linemen .................... 50
Electricians ............... 8
Instrument mechanics ....... 8
Stenographer ............... 1
Upper Division Clerk ....... 1
Lower Division Clerk ....... 1
Accounts Clerks ............ 2
Class IV Staff ............. 2
In addition provision has been made for special instruments such as Sacraphones and plan 103 sets and for the underground cables which the Border Roads Organisation will not be providing.
Hiring charges for use of telephone lines in lndia has also been provided for from the second year.
Detailed break up of the expenditure is given in Vol. No. II.
Department ............. Postal
Scheme No. ............. XII
Name of the Scheme ..... Training of Telephone Operators
Proposed Outlay ........ Rs 51,240
In order to meet our needs of telephone technicians such as Linemen, Instrument mechanic and Telephone Operators, it is proposed to send 10 Linemen, two Instrument mechanics, two Electricians and six Telephone Operators per year for training. Provision has been made for their stipends and for their T. A. and other expenses including payment to Government Institutions where they will be trained, as well as, for their messing charges.
Detailed break up of the expenditure is given in Vol. II.
Debarment .............. Postal
Scheme No. ............. XIII
Name of the Scheme ..... Introduction of Telegraphic Services
Proposed Outlay ........ Rs. 1,65,468 (say Rs. 1.65 lakhs)
In the Second Plan, it is proposed to introduced telegraphic services utilizing the existing telephone lines.
Provision has only been made for a limited amount of equipment and staff which will be under the overall control of the Divisional Engineer, Telephones.
The staff proposed for this scheme is:
Telegraph Master ... ... ...1
Telegraphists ... ... 4
Telegram messengers ... ... 6
Telegraph facilities will be established mainly at Thimphu, Paro and Phuntsholing.
Detailed break up of the expenditure is given in Vol. No. II.
Department ............. Postal
Scheme No. ............. XlV
Name of the Scheme ..... Buildings
Proposed Outlay ........ Rs. 10,73,600 (Say Rs. 10.74 lakhs)
The Post Office building at Phuntsholing was started in the First Plan and it is expected to be completed in the first year of the Second Plan. Provision for the spill over to meet this expenditure has been made in the Second Plan.
In addition the Post Office buildings at Thimphu, Sarbhang, Gaylegphug, Paro, Wangdi- phodrang, Sibsoo, Chirang, Ha, Lhuntai and Byagar have also been provided for.
Residential accommodation at Phuntsholing, Sarbhang, Gaylegphug, Paro, Samdrup Jongkhar, Samchi, and Sibsoo has also been included in the plan.
Where there are large concentrations of staff only 50% of the accommodation is catered for bearing in mind our limitations for construction.
Detailed break up of the expenditure is given in Vol. No. II.