Indian expats in Middle East worried about passport reform

News Network
January 18, 2018

The Indian government’s decision to do away with the address page in the Indian passport has received mixed reaction from social workers and expatriates in the Middle Eastern countries.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of government of India recently announced its decision to do away with the last page of the passport and other travel. The last page contains information such the name of parents, spouse, address, Emigration Check Required (ECR) and old passport number with date and place of issue of the holder of the passport.

Late last year, the Indian government also announced that NRIs are not eligible to apply for Aadhar - India's biometric identity card - nor are they required to link their Aadhar details to PAN cards or register it with their SIM cards. The decision to do-away with the address page on the passport raises questions as to what NRIs must do to avail services such as apply for SIM cards or open bank accounts in India.

Indian missions in the United Arab Emirates have stated that they are yet to receive official instruction from the Ministry in New Delhi before new passports can be issued. Pavan K. Rai, first secretary, consular affairs at the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, said: "We are yet to receive official instructions from New Delhi with this regard, and cannot comment on the decision's effects on NRI's in UAE. Once we get clear guidelines from the ministry, we can clarify processes for residents."

Orange is the new blue?

Furthermore, the proposal to issue 'an orange coloured' passport for Emigration Check Required (ECR) categories of people was met with ire, as social workers stated that it is discriminatory to segregate citizens who have not passed Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examinations.

The 'ECR' stamp in the current passport ensures the safety of uneducated and unskilled Indian workers, from the deprived socio-economic conditions, against prevailing legal conditions in foreign countries.

KV Shamsudheen, founder and chairman of Pravasi Bandhu Welfare Trust, has written a letter to the Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj requesting her to retract this decision as it would cause severe difficulty for NRI's.

He said: "It is not fair to segregate citizens who in the ECR category with and orange passport. The government is claiming the orange passport will save workers from exploitation. But that is not the case, they will be subject to discrimination, especially at immigration lines at international airports."

Social worker Girish Pant said that the decision has its pros and cons. "If workers are easily identified with the different coloured passport, they can avail services that would protect them against unscrupulous agents and job frauds. However, removal of the address could indeed cause increased paper work for NRIs, especially when it comes to getting their paperwork attested by various authorities."

Many countries demand parents' information for resident and visit visa purposes, said Shamsudheen, adding, "If the new passport is implemented, NRIs have to get a certificate showing parents' names' (birth certificate) from their home cities, that requires attestation by the Indian ministry of foreign affairs, embassies of the home country, and attestation by respective country's foreign ministry. It will be very cumbersome to NRIs. Applying for visas to foreign countries will be a technical nightmare," he said.

Another social worker in Dubai Kusum Dutta said: "When Aadhar was implemented, my family and I got it made. I feel proud to have an Aadhar with me, because it gives me a sense of identity. Though I am very happy that the government has taken such a bold step, I am a bit unsure if we're equipped electronically to handle this shift given our population. Both in India and abroad."

Comments

Muhammed Ali Uchil
 - 
Monday, 22 Jan 2018

Now, passport holders with ECR status would be issued a passport with orange color passport jacket

Treating India's migrant workers like second class citizens is completely unacceptable. This action demonstrates govt.'s discriminatory mindset. However well-intentioned the move to create different coloured passports for different kinds of travellers, it is wrong and must be reconsidered. Already officials treat citizens differently based on their class...different passport colors will worsen it.
While Indian passports have a blue cover, diplomatic and official passports have white and red jackets, respectively. Currently, barring diplomatic and official passports, all Indian passports have blue cover.So,let it be like that!

abbu
 - 
Sunday, 21 Jan 2018

AT THE END OF THE DAY MODI GOVT. SHOULD SHOW THE WORK.. THTS THE REASON HE IS DOING ALL THESE THINGS... THIS IS NOT A PRIMARY REQUIREMENT TO CHANGE THE PASSPORT COLOURS. THERE ARE SOO SOO MANY THINGS TO BE DONE WHICH MODI GOVT. PROMISED AND STILL IN PAGES....... WAKE UP GUYS WAKE UP... IF NOT NOW THEN WE ARE THE ONE WHO IS SUFFREING FROM THIS AND NOT THE MP'S OR MLA'S OR MINISTERS

Parson
 - 
Friday, 19 Jan 2018

Y this degradation for un-educated workers? Already big blunder is been created by MODI Govt by doing De-Monitization. All the black money was made white. No Black money came into govt's Hand. The poeple who will suffer wil be common man. PM, please stop this blunders what are u planing to create. Which fool gives you these idea, he shud be killed. Wasting Tax payers money for silly nonsense. Wake up Guys......Let BLUE b the BLUE.......

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News Network
March 19,2024

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Bengaluru, Mar 19: Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said that the Congress will split in three months after the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and its impact will be visible on the Siddaramaiah-led state government.

"Due to internal squabbles, the state government will not last long," the BJP leader said.

Talking to reporters on Monday, he said the sitting MP from the Gadag-Haveri constituency, Shivakumar Udasi, has done a lot of development work and implemented the Central government's schemes effectively.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi will surely become the PM for the third time. The overall response has been good in the Gadag-Haveri Lok Sabha constituency," the former Karnataka chief minister said.

Asked if he was contesting the election in a half-hearted manner in the Gadag-Haveri seat, Bommai said "such a question does not arise when the party's high command gives instructions".

He said he would respect his opponent and not take anyone lightly. 

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News Network
March 28,2024

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Mangaluru, Mar 28: A fish meal factory in the Baikampady Industrial area in Mangaluru was gutted in a fire incident on Thursday, officials said.

The factory is owned by the company 'Shihar Enterprises', they said.

According to the locals, the fire was first noticed at 4.45 am today, which was immediately reported to the fire department.

The fire engines reached the spot and tried to douse the fire, but it had already spread to other parts of the factory. After almost four hours of fire-fighting operation, the blaze was completely doused, officials.

The reason for the blaze is still being probed, the fire department officials said, adding that they suspect an electric short circuit could have triggered it.

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News Network
March 28,2024

Mangaluru, Mar 28: Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner Mullai Muhilan MP has warned the individuals and political parties against the poll code violations during private events. 
 
“Private events such as marriages, birthdays, housewarming ceremonies, and other non-political programmes do not require any permission. However, one should ensure that there is no violation of the model code of conduct (MCC) at these functions. Permission is needed if the events are attended by politicians or candidates,” the DC said. 

He said that these gatherings will be under the surveillance of MCC teams, as there are chances of luring voters by campaigning and supplying food, said the DC. The district has 38,386 new voters, of which, 19,619 are men.

He said that the notification of election in Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha constituency will be issued soon, and the filing of nominations will be held between 11 am and 3 pm till April 4. 

Only five persons, including the candidate, will be allowed to enter the returning officer’s chamber to submit the nominations. A facilitation centre will be opened at the DC’s office. 

The expenditure of the candidate will be counted from the day the candidate files the nomination.

The DC said that the district is not an expenditure-sensitive constituency. Assistant expenditure observers and expenditure observers will monitor the expenditure of the candidates. An expenditure book will be provided to the candidate to record expenditure incurred, he explained.

Further, he said that no election materials can be printed without the name and address of the publishers, and the number of copies printed. Separate permission should be availed for procession prior to the submission of nomination papers from the ARO office, through the single-window system.

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