Government to release stamps on popular personalities

NEW DELHI: The government will release a series of postal stamps on well-known singers, writers, freedom-fighters and painters and it also seeks designs of philatelic stamps through crowd sourcing.

The decision was taken by the philatelic advisory committee which met under the chairmanship of Communication and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad yesterday.

According to an official statement, it was also decided that ceremonial stamps issued so far may be made available in all post offices, and stamps with picture postcards may be released on tourist places such as Taj Mahal, Ajanta and Ellora, Belur Math, Khajuraho etc.

The Minister suggested to have designs of philatelic stamps through crowd sourcing.

Commemorative postage stamp on 'Swach Bharat', the theme of clean India, was released by Department of Posts on January 30, 2015. The design of the stamp was decided through an open competition.

A commemorative postage stamp on Women Empowerment will be released on August 15, 2015. Its design has been decided by crowd sourcing.

Prasad also said a mobile app should be developed so that people can have information about philatelic stamps.