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With a tie-up, Inlott outlets will look not just to encourage awareness on small savings but also inculcate the saving habit.

Mumbai , Aug. 17

MARTIN Lottery Agencies Ltd (MLAL), the country's largest lottery company, has rolled out a new marketing strategy by tying up with the Department of Small Savings & State Lotteries, Government of Maharashtra, as its online lottery agent. The move would further mobilise small savings for the State government through the company's Internet-based lottery outlets.

MLAL plans to make Inlott, its Internet-based lottery system, a medium to facilitate small savings mobilisation. In each Inlott retail outlet, a separate counter would be provided for small savings mobilisations and each one would have investment advisory staff trained to handle customers, understand their requirements and accordingly suggest the right small savings scheme.

Addressing a press conference, Mr Usman Fayaz, CEO, Martin Group said, "Our aim is to convert the network of terminals into multi-utility service besides gaming."

Inlott, with around 3,000 installed terminals, has a sales turnover of Rs 5 crore a day with over 400 lottery draws conducted every day, Mr Fayaz said, adding that these outlets across the State will not only encourage awareness on small savings but also inculcate the saving habit among people.

Ms Kavitha Gupta, Commissioner of Small Savings Department of the Government of Maharashtra, pointed out that initiatives such as this will help them reach out to many potential investors who are unaware of such secure investment schemes being available.

The Small Savings Department would also train the investment advisory staff at these outlets, so that they could give guidance on investment planning and tax planning to the investors.

The application form would be downloaded from the Inlott terminal, and the investment advisory staff will assist the investor in filling the form. The investor would pay the required amount and receive a temporary receipt. In case of National Saving Certificates and Kisan Vikas Patras schemes, the investor may exercise his option of receiving them in demat form.

Maharashtra has mobilised Rs 21,600 crore through small savings investments such as PPF, Post Office Monthly Income Schemes, Kisan Vikas Patras, National Saving Certificates, Post Office Time Deposit and Recurring Deposits for the year 2003-2004.

Focusing on its multi-utility platform, the company is also talking to mobile phone companies about offering its Internet-enabled premise for recharging pre-paid cards and doubling up as bill collection centres.

More Stories on : Strategy | Lottery | Small Savings

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