India post to introduce electronic money order transfer

Mumbai, Feb 7 (UNI) India Post would soon introduce Electronic Money Order service to ensure faster receipt of remittances from abroad, Minister of Communication and Information Technology Dayanidhi Maran said here today.

As per the World Bank figures, India has the largest share of remittances from abroad. The market size of money remittance services is pegged at 100 billion dollars.

''In 2005, we received remittances worth 21.7 billion dollars.

The electronic money orders received in the computerised post office would be delivered the same day and people would be able the receive the remittances faster,'' Mr Maran said while releasing a set of four scented stamps on ''fragrance of roses'' brought out by the Department of Posts, the second in the series of perfumed stamps.

Actress Preity Zinta received the first set of fragnant stamp of roses. She said the stamps showcase the spectacular variety, beauty and fragnance of roses found in the country.

The minister also informed that the instant money order service would be extended by March end to all the 602 districts of the country.

Mr Maran said the instant money order service scheme was introduced last year and it provides for the recipient of the money order to go to the post office with the 16 digit code, informed to him by the sender and receive the money instantly.

He said with the release of the four scented stamps on fragrant red, pink and yellow roses found in the country, India Post has thought of another role for these unique flowers, that of conveying one's thoughts and sentiments to their loved ones, through perfumed letters and cards. He said the scented stamps were an innovative way of popularising the use of posts.

He said the sandalwood scented stamps were launched in Delhi two months ago which have been extremely popular. ''Jasmine scented stamps will be launched in Chennai soon,''he said adding India is the fourth country in the world after New Zealand, Thailand and Switzerland to issue perfumed stamps.

The stamps launched today are 'Bhim', 'Neelam' -- both priced at Rs 5, 'Delhi Princess' and 'Jawahar' -- that are priced at Rs 15 each.

Miniature sheet with presentation pack comes for Rs 55 and a set of 16 stamps with presentation pack costs Rs 185. The greeting card with first day cover with a block of four stamps is priced at Rs 60.

These stamps will be available at GPO Mumbai, GPO Nagpur, head post offices in Nashik, Panaji and other places in Maharashtra and Goa.

UNI