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Indian government to announce merger of PIO/OCI Cards soon

Admin | Jun 06, 2011 | 0 comments

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NEW YORK: Responding to a spate of complaints from the Indian Diaspora in the United States regarding India’s visa and passport rules for NRIs, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi on his recent visit to New York said his Ministry was embarking on several measures including rationalization of the various schemes for facilitating travel and stay of the Indian Diaspora members in India.

At a reception hosted in his honor at the Indian Consulate in New York, May 26, Minister Ravi said that the Indian government was streamlining the issue of surrendering passports and penalties levied on PIOs for not surrendering their passports in time.

The modalities for merger of the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) cards was also in advanced stage of consideration and the government would be able to announce it soon, he informed.

The Minister also mentioned that a Welfare Fund, established in a few Indian Missions has now been extended to all Missions and Posts and would be of helpful in rendering assistance to Indians in distress in foreign countries. He elaborated on the evacuation efforts made by our Mission in Libya where all Indians were evacuated safely in record time.

Referring to the various initiatives taken for the benefit of NRIs by his ministry, Minister Ravi pointed out to the granting of full voting rights to NRIs.

Ravi, who has recently taken over the portfolio of Minister of Civil Aviation, stated that he was trying to solve the long term problem of India’s national carrier, Air India and improve its service.

Florida reception for Ravi

The issues regarding recent visa policies of the Indian government and problems relating to passport surrender certificate by naturalized American citizens of Indian origin were brought up at a dinner reception in honor of Minister Vayalar Ravi hosted by Dr. Piyush Agrawal, national coordinator of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), in Miami, Florida, the following day.

Several South Florida Indian Community members were present on the occasion to honor the minister and other government officials accompanying him. Speaking in the spirit of “let’s not point fingers but let’s talk change”, Dr. Agrawal told the minister, “You know these issues and their implications better than anybody else. Please take appropriate actions to soothe the pains inflicted upon the Diaspora by these irritant policies,” emphasized Dr. Agrawal.

Organizations like the Indian Religious and Cultural Center, Kashmir Hindu Foundation, The Association of Indians in America, American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, GOPIO, Asian American Hotel Owners Association, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, BAPS, Diwali Nagar and Trinidad & Tobago Diaspora were represented at the reception.

Minister Ravi reiterated his assurances to the community that he would look into their concerns as his top priority.

The minister pointed out that it was easy to sit back and pass judgment on whatever one feels is wrong with India. Many people succumb to this laissez-faire attitude but very rarely does one take a stand on change, he said. Although solutions to the issues cannot be “whipped up” in a day, they can be achieved through the awareness and persistent efforts of the community such as that in South Florida, he said.

On the occasion, the minister was presented with a plaque with an embedded commemorative silver coin released on the first Diwali celebration at the White House.

Source: http://www.indiapost.com/indian-government-to-announce-merger-of-piooci-cards-soon/

Filed Under: PIO Diaspora