Mangaluru: Deputy Commissioner AB Ibrahim held a press meet at his office here, on April 12.
Addressing the media persons, Ibrahim said, “The postal department will release a Special Cover to commemorate the twenty-year journey of Pilikula on April 13, at 3 PM at the DC office premises. Bisu will be celebrated at the Pilikula Guthumane at 10 AM on April 14 and it will be open to the public from April 15.”
Senior Superintendent of Post Office, M Jagadish Pai said, “The Special Cover has a philanthropic value and one of the special cover printed will be preserved at the National Philately Bureau, New Delhi. The Special Cover is produced at a charge of Rs 5000 and 3000 copies will be printed and handed over to the district administration. ”
Dr Shivarama Karantha Pilikula Nisarga Dhama is located 10 Kms away from Mangaluru City of Dakshina Kannada District, Karnataka, spread over an area of 356 acres of land. It is dedicated to the conservation of bio-diversity of the Western Ghats, heritage and culture, the creation of awareness in Science and Technology and promotion of tourism. Towards the objective of showcasing heritage and culture, a unique and live Heritage village is set up in Pilikula. Living style, agricultural methods, arts, crafts and cultural practises of olden times are recreated to experience the heritage. Guthumane (Residence of Village Headman), paddy field, coconut and areca nut garden, nagabana, Kambalagadde (bullock race course) are the important components of heritage village. The release of this Special Cover is dedicated to promote Eco-tourism and creation of awareness about our environment and traditional cultural practises.
About Special Cover: An event which is not nationally important enough to be commemorated by issue of a Commemorative / Special stamp or for which a stamp cannot be accommodated in the annual issue programme may be commemorated by the Department by issue of Special covers which can be cancelled with a special cancellation at the post office selected for the purpose. Such covers can also be issued to commemorate any important occasion on payment of requisite charges. These covers should bear minimum postage stamps. Head of the Circles are the competent authority to sanction special covers commemorating any event/institutions/inaugural flight under their jurisdiction. The design usually connected to the event should be restricted to the left half of the cover and should not impinge upon the address portion of the cover. The stamps affixed on the special cover will be cancelled with a special cancellation cachet. The cancellation seal contains the date and place of the event. Special covers are widely collected by the collectors/Philatelists along with other philatelic materials as a special collection. A short description of the event will be printed on the back side of the cover.
My Stamp: Personalized Postage Stamp My Stamp is the brand name for personalised sheets of commemorative postage stamps of India Post. The personalization is achieved by printing a thumbnail photograph of customer’s image/logo, images of artwork, heritage buildings, famous tourist places etc. alongside the selected commemorative postage stamp.
‘My Stamp’ was first introduced in India during the World Philatelic Exhibition-‘Indipex-2011′. Customers who wish to have a’ My stamp’ will have to visit the nearest Post office where my stamp facility is available and produce ID proof issued by Government Authority along with the prescribed application. The photograph can be clicked or accepted in a soft/hard copy. Customer may give the soft/hard copy of their logo/symbol, images of artwork, heritage buildings, famous tourist places, historical cities, wild life, other animals, and birds etc. subject to such images not being of offensive nature in any way. To get personalised “My Stamp”, the customers will have to fill in the form indicating choice of stamps from the available stamp sheets and to deposit Rs. 300/- along with his/her colour photo (with white background) clicked or provide the same in a hard/soft copy. ‘My Stamp’ will be printed and delivered on the spot to the customer. A sheet of ‘My stamp’ contains 12 Postage Stamps. At present, in Mangaluru, My Stamp facility is available at the Philately Bureau, Mangaluru Head post office. Corporate customers can also avail this facility by ordering minimum quantity of sheets prescribed by the department.
Speaking about the chemistry re-examinations, Ibrahim said, “Chemistry exams were held on April 12 at 51 centres in the district and concluded smoothly. 4 sets of question papers were prepared and sent to the district, two each from Dharwad and Bengaluru. A gazetted officer was appointed to each of the 51 exam centres to deliver the question papers in designated vehicles directly to the exam centres.”
