New Delhi: To strengthen its network and postal operations in rural areas and provide Small Savings Schemes to villagers, the Department of Posts has extended all Small Savings Schemes up to the Branch Post Office level.

There are 1,31,113 Branch Post Offices functioning in the rural areas. Apart from facilities of letters, speed post, parcels, electronic money order, Rural Postal Life Insurance, these branches were providing Post Office Savings Account, Recurring Deposit and Sukanya Samriddhi Account Schemes until now. The new order allows the Branch Post Offices to offer facilities of Public Provident Fund, Monthly Income Scheme, National Savings Certificate, Kisan Vikas Patra and Senior Citizen Savings Schemes, said a statement from the Postal Department.