Una, August 20: To expand the reach of Postal Life Insurance (PLI) and Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI), the Department of Posts has introduced a new category for government employees known as 'Other Departmental Employees' (ODE). Under this initiative, eligible Central and State government employees can voluntarily work on PLI/RPLI business after office hours and earn incentives in accordance with prescribed rules.
Balbir Chand, Superintendent of the Una Postal Division, stated that the Postal Life Insurance scheme has been operational since February 1, 1884, and is one of the country's trusted government insurance schemes. Under this new arrangement, eligible employees serving in Central or State governments will be engaged as a sales force for PLI/RPLI.

**Eligibility and Conditions for ODE**
He explained that any serving Central or State government employee holding a post up to Pay Level-8 in the pay matrix is ??eligible to become an ODE. Interested employees must obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their parent department. Work as an ODE will be entirely voluntary and must be carried out after office hours.
Eligible ODEs will receive incentives based on prescribed rates for generating new business and handling renewals for PLI/RPLI. Proposals related to PLI/RPLI must be submitted through the Development Officer of the respective postal division.
Balbir Chand added that eligible government employees interested in working as ODEs can submit their applications in the prescribed format through their respective offices by August 31.