India Launches Electronic Money Order Service for Expatriates Seeking Government Info (March 28, 2013)
India’s government has launched an electronic money order service, opening a channel for citizens living abroad to purchase an electronic Indian postal order (eIPO) over the Internet. India established eIPOs for Indian citizens outside the country to pay for Right to Information requests, which enables citizens to request data and other information from any public authority. India’s Right to Information Act went into effect in 2005 but until now no simple process existed for expatriates to pay for eIPOs.
India’s Department of Posts, in conjunction with the Ministry of Communications & IT developed the new system so citizens seeking information from a specific ministry, department or state government agency may purchase a money order online and attach it to a Right to Information request sent through India’s postal service Website. The postal service said it accepts Visa and MasterCard credit and debit cards for eIPOs. The service is available only for Indian citizens living abroad who file Right to Information requests, according to an announcement.
