Sarthak Kanjilall
Port Blair, August 23: Mrs. Sampa Banerjee, Member, UTPCR has extended her heartfelt gratitude towards the education department especially to the former Secretary of the Department Mrs. Kriti Garg after her demand of extending the due date of receipt of online application for allotment of various courses at mainland institutions have been accepted by the department.
After no option was left for the students to apply following the restrictions placed due to the Lockdown in the Islands, Mrs. Banerjee came up with the demand to support the students willing to apply in the mainland institutions.
The last date of receipt of online application for allotment of various courses at mainland institutions is now extended till 31st of August 2020 which was previously till 20/08/2020.

Dr.S.Ganesan
Regional Director, IGNOU

The postal communication plays a vital role in Open and Distance Learning System of India. The postal mode of distribution of printed study material, certificate(s) to the registered distance learners, is one of the transaction channels between the distance education institute and the learner. The paper based certificates, reading material in print etc. are in need of postal transmission, even today. The digital era and e-environment may not completely replace postal communication in ODL system. However, the e-mode digital communication, website support are significantly reducing the load on postal communication. Being so, the delivery of documents to students, from head quarters or regional offices, is facing few challenges.

Reasons of Return of Post
• Incomplete address
• Incorrect / wrong address
• Missing of mobile number
• Vacated / shifted to new address
• Receiver not available at the time of delivery
• Door locked condition
• Unexpected transfer out of island
• Posted / camp /visit to inter-island / main-land for some period

The places like A & N Islands having its own unique geographical problems such as: hilly terrain, sharp up and down curved landscape, hill top with circular path, steps on road, foot path connectivity, land slide during rainy season, inter-island separation by sea water, scattered population etc. We can find a sharp contrast with planned city like Chandigarh, where the Sector, Street, House number are specified in logical sequence. In the absence of a structured address for postal communication, the post-man finds it difficult to locate the address using land-mark. The poor mobile signal connectivity also adds to the problem of post-man. A motivated post-man may try, more than one attempt, to visit the address / to establish mobile contact. After significant good attempts, the document arrives at sender / local regional centre office. To handle the return packets locally, the sender has started mentioning the local regional centre address instead of real (far-away) sender. This strategy facilitates the local centres, to handle the grievances of students, to some extent, when s/he approaches the RC.

Bouncing Documents of Students
 Admission Confirmation Letter
 Attested Student Identity Card
 Study Material Packet (Books)
 Grade Card, Provisional Certificate
 Degree Certificate
 Migration Certificate
The SMS about the dispatch operation to student gives some clue. But, the phased manner of long dispatching time is not matching with SMS communication, in bulk. The interlinking the SMS / e-mail communication with barcode of dispatch is yet a great task, while handling thousands of packets in a day; still, it is not impossible to link. The instant SMS communication used in gas cylinder delivery, ATM/bank transaction etc. are some of available good examples, for perfect match between communication & delivery. The data entry at post office data base can instantly generate SMS or e-mail communication directly to students, to reduce the time lapse in communication.

Strategies for handling Return Material

 Individual phone Call to student
 Bulk SMS to students
 Bulk e-mail to students
 Website communication
 Press-release in mass media
 Letter by post to alternative address of student

On one hand, the ‘advance intimation’ frustrates the student to wait for long period; on the other hand, ‘short notice’ communication also irritates the student, to manage the situation at last minute. Thus, a timely communication to student is to be ensured with error free operation. What is required for it? A synchronized perfectly interlinked operation(s) between communication and dispatch operation will solve the problem to a greater extent.
Communication Gaps
Student does not know, whom to contact
Student keep silence, for long period, for some valid reason(s)
Student’s address / mobile number / email ID changed
Student do not have e-mail ID
No alternative postal address to contact student
Less interaction between RC & learner
Less / no personal visits to RC due to online operations
No pre-intimation about tentative date of delivery
Address labels are generated, well before dispatch, by the time student change address
Reduction of communication gap is one of the known solutions for reducing the bouncing posts. Till we reach the optimum level of communication gap, we have to continue our fire fighting operations only. Channelizing the schedule of operations (SoP), even at eleventh hour rush, is need of the hour. Let us start concrete attempt, even in small steps, to move forward to handle the growing challenge.

Port Blair, June 02: The Teleconference mode two-way Audio and one way Video Interactive Classes are being organized through Gyan Darshan-2 TV Channel. The Gyan Darshan TV Channel is readily available under Doordarshan Channels bouquet and through Tata Sky Cable Network Channel No.755 as free- to- air channel. The Educational TV Channel of India –Gyan Darshan-2 is 24 X 7 channel shows classes for IGNOU students throughout day- and -night. The complete monthly schedule of Gyandarshan-2 channel can also be downloaded from IGNOU website www.ignou.ac.in. The IGNOU students are advised to regularly watch the Gyan Darshan-2 Channel to prepare quality assignments and also to prepare for Term End Exam.
A communication from Regional Director, IGNOU, Regional Centre, Port Blair said.

Port Blair, Apr 25: All the learners of IGNOU Regional Centre Port Blair are informed that the date for online submission of examination form for June 2020 TEE has been extended upto 15th May 2020 without Late Fee. Learners can fill the form online from http://exam.ignou.ac.in/ . Students are advised to regularly visit http://rcportblair.ignou.ac.in/ to get all the latest news and updates. A communication from the Regional Director said.

Port Blair, Apr 02: Keeping in mind the precautionary measures by the Government of India in preventing the spread of NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19), and complete LOCKDOWN throughout the Country , the learners of IGNOU are advised to kindly follow the Official Facebook Page @OfficialPageIGNOU for Live counselling sessions & updates during the COVID19 lock-down period. All the latest updates and live counselling sessions by different Schools of the University for different programmes will be conducted through this FB page till the lockdown period. The learners are advised to make the maximum use of this facility at their home.
Further, learners are also advised to download the schedule of IGNOU’s Gyan Darshan TV Channel for April, 2020 from IGNOU website to utilize the period of lockdown at home and watch IGNOU Course related programmes on your TV sets through Gyan Darshan Channel provided through ACN & Tata Sky networks across the islands. It is once again advised to all learners to Stay at Home,and Stay Safe. A communication from Regional Director said

Port Blair, Mar 24: Keeping in view the spread of Corona Virus, the epidemic and complete lockdown throughout the country, Indira Gandhi National Open University has extended the last date of accepting the June 2020 Term-end Examination forms WITHOUT ANY LATE FEE upto 30th APRIL 2020. Students can fill the Online Examination form from the link http://exam.ignou.ac.in/ or visit IGNOU website www.ignou.ac.in for more details. A communication from the Regional Director, IGNOU, Regional Centre, Port Blair said.