OCI cannot be admitted on a govt MBBS seat: High court

OCI cannot be admitted on a govt MBBS seat: High court

TNN | Oct 17, 2023, 11.05 AM IST

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat high court on Monday dismissed an appeal by a medical student, who holds an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, for admission to a medical course in the general category. The HC disposed of the appeal with the observation that an OCI cannot be equated to a citizen of India. 

This case involved Vatsa Shah, a British passport holder. In 2019, he wanted admission to the MBBS course, but the admissions committee for professional undergraduate medical education courses denied him admission. Upon the HC’s direction, the student applied for admission under the NRI (Non-Resident Indian) quota and was granted admission and he is now to complete his studies.

The issue pending in this case was limited to whether an OCI can be admitted in the general category.

The student contended the government notification issued in 2017 treated OCI card holders on a par with NRIs so far as matters of education is concerned, and thus an OCI card holder was entitled to get admission in the general category.

The state government objected to this and submitted that the rules changed later and asserted that an OCI or an NRI cannot get admission on a government seat.

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Grooms have to pay dowry to NRI girls

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01.02.2022

Neelam Patel, a resident of Karjisan village in Kadi taluka of Mehsana district. added, “The expenditure depends on the route taken to the US. The dowry is higher if the woman has entered the US  through Canada, and lesser if she has taken the Mexico route. ”

As per estimate, the sex ratio in the Patel community is 650 to 700 females as against 1,000 males.

Arpit Patel,a residentof Kalol, said that the lack of resources in the state has forced residents of the 42 Gaam Patidar Samaj to immigrate to the US or Canada through any means possible.

“The trend of settling in the US has been increasing among community members over the past 10 years. Mainly landowners or farmers, themen are facing trouble because land parcels are shrinking and there are not many job opportuni- ties for us. So, parents look for a suitable boy from the US or Canada. While NRI families pay dowry in lakhs if the girl is already settled in these countries,even if it is through illegal means,” said Arpit.

A suitable boy? Only if you are an NRI

Girls From 42 Gaam Patidar Samaj Prefer NRI Boys

Ahmedabad: When a man enters the marriage market, he faces inquiries about his house, job, and salary. But anyone looking to marry a girl from the ‘42 Gaam Patidar Samaj’ usually needs to answer one more question: “Do you or your relatives live in the US, or at least Ca- nada?” If the answer is no, then his chances of making the match plummets. 

The skewed sex ratio and ambition to get a life partner settled abroad has led to the emergence of two new trends among this sub-sect of the Patidar community which comprises of people from 42 villages in Gandhinagar and Mehsana districts. While women prefer to marry men with NRI status, the men who are already settled in the US are paying ‘dowry’ to girls settled in the US. This usually includes the expenditure incurred by the girl’s family to help her im- migrate illegally.

One of these villages is Dingucha, a village in Kalol taluka of Gandhinagar which recently came into limelight after a family of four from the village froze to death while trying to illegally cross into the US from Canada.

Bhavin Patel, a resident of Dingucha, said, “In my com- nity, if a man has not gone to the US nor has any relative abroad, then it becomes difficult for him to find a match. There are many men who have remained unmarried because they had no way of settling in the US. This is one of the reasons that some men go to the US through dangerous, illegal routes.”

According to members of the 42 Gaam Patidar Samaj, the parents of NRI men living in the US or Canada also desperately seek women who are already in the US or Canada. “We prefer to marry within the  community, but we are plagued by skewed sex ratio. This combined with the need for a partner already settled abroad means that the prospective groom’s family is ready to pay ‘dowry’ to cover the money spent by the girl’s family to send her abroad illegally. This can range anywhere between Rs 15 lakh to Rs 30 lakh,” said Neelam Patel, a resident of Karjisan village in Kadi taluka of Mehsana district.

NRIs’ custody battle: HC orders father to send kids to mother in NZ

 NRIs’ custody battle: HC orders father to send kids to mother in NZ

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01.02.2022

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad: Putting an end to the battle involving an NRI couple for custody of their three children, the Gujarat high court ordered the father to send the children to their mother in New Zealand. The father had brought children to India on the pretext of attending social functions, kept them here and did not take them back to New Zealand despite an order issued by a NZ high court.

According to the case details, the couple married in India in 2010. The man had been living in New Zealand since 2002. After the wedding, the wife also joined him in New Zealand. They had a son, who was brought to India in 2015 and the father did not take him back. The couple then had twin sons,who werealso brought to India by the father in 2017 and their custody was entrusted to his mother and  sister. His wife continued to ask him to bring the children back, but the family admitted them to a boarding school in Mehsana.

The mother tried to meet the children but failed. She even approached a local court in search of her children, but her application was rejected on thegrounds that the children werein the custody of their grandmother and aunt and this was not illegal. In 2018, the woman came to know that her husband had returned to New Zealand and she followed him. She moved a New Zealand high court, which in 2019 ordered the father to return the children to New Zealand saying their removal from the country and retention in India by the father was completely illegal and wrong.

The father did not heed the NZ high court order and kept the children in India. They were shiftedto aBengaluru boarding school. The womanapproachedGujarat HC and sought their custody in 2020. Two years later, the HC held that the children’s custody should be with the mother. The judges said, “Children would need both the parents and while spouses can cease to act as husband and wife, they cannot cease to be parents ever. ”

The HC ordered the father to take the children to New Zealand within eight weeks or arrange for their return by providing air tickets.

The children’s custody should be handed over to the mother in the presence of the barrister appointed by the NZ high court.

The father has been ordered to disclose travel details, and once the children reach New Zealand, the order of the NZ HC should be followed with regard to visitation and custody.

The father has been ordered to take the children there before March 25. If the travel details are not furnished to the mother’s lawyer, it will be presumed that he has no intention of travelling and the handing over of custody to the mother should take place in the presence of the Gujarat HC registrar (judicial) by February 25.

The HC also said that the mother, if she wishes, can come down to India and take custody and the father should bear the expenses, or the mother should appoint a trusted person to take the children to New Zealand.

US curbs eased, but visa wait time gets longer for Indians

US curbs eased, but visa wait time gets longer for Indians

Saurabh.Sinha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:31.10.2021

The lifting of US restrictions on fully-vaccinated travellers from India from November 8 has seen the processing time for visas rise significantly. The US embassy in India on Saturday warned of “significant appointment wait times for some nonimmigrant visa categories.” During pandemic, a long waiting time for visa-processing of countries that open their doors to travellers from abroad is a phenomenon seen regularly. “From November 8, an estimated 30 lakh visa holders from India, with proof of vaccination, will be able to travel to the United States under the new international air travel policy. Facilitating legitimate travel to support our strong and growing bilateral ties is our top priority. As we build back from covid-19 related interruptions, we expect significant appointment wait times for some nonimmigrant visa categories at our embassy and consulates. Thank you for your patience while we work to increase our capacity and maintain the safety of our applicants and staff,” the US embassy website states.

Describing the vaccination requirements for travellers, it adds: “Starting on November 8, foreign national air travellers to the US will be required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of vaccination status prior to boarding to fly to the US, with only limited exceptions. The CDC has determined that for the purposes of entry into the United States, vaccines accepted will include those FDA approved or authorised, as well as vaccines with an emergency use listing (EUL) from the World Health Organization (WHO).”

“From November 8, an estimated 30 lakh visa holders from India, with proof of vaccination, will be able to travel to the United States under the new international air travel policy”

Sydney lockdown extended statewide, fines hiked as Australia faces ‘worst’ Covid episode

Sydney lockdown extended statewide, fines hiked as Australia faces ‘worst’ Covid episode

SYDNEY, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Australian police hiked fines for people breaking lockdown rules in Sydney and the rest of its home state on Saturday and strict stay-at-home orders were extended statewide amid a record jump in daily new COVID-19 infections.

State police will fine up to A$5,000 ($3,700) anyone breaching stay-at-home orders or for lying to contract-tracing officials, said state Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Previously breaching quarantine orders had carried a A$1,000 fine.

"We have to accept that this is the worst situation New South Wales has been in since day one. And it's also regrettably, because of that, the worst situation Australia's been in," she told a news conference.

Locally transmitted infections surged by a record 466 over the previous 24 hours, eclipsing the previous daily high of 390 set on Friday. Four deaths were recorded on Saturday, taking the state's total in the latest outbreak to 42.

It is becoming increasingly unlikely Sydney will end its nine-week lockdown on Aug. 28 as planned. Authorities had been talking about easing some restrictions if enough people are vaccinated and case numbers fall.

"We will get through this, but September and October are going to be very difficult," Berejiklian said.

"This is literally a war, and we've known we've been in a war for some time, but never to this extent."

Hundreds more defence personnel will be deployed next week to Sydney to help enforce the lockdown, with authorities particularly concerned about the spread of the virus to several regional towns.

A new A$3,000 fine will apply to people entering rural areas without an official permit, while stay-at-home orders were introduced for seven days in regional areas not currently in lockdown.

Weddings and funerals will get a day "grace period" and will be allowed on Sunday, but schools across the state will close, officials said. The head of the Australian Retailers Association, Paul Zahra, said the state-wide lockdown would come as a shock to many regional towns and could cost the economy A$1.5 billion ($1.11 billion) per week.

The permit to enter rural areas will only be granted for certain reasons including authorised work, property inspections or urgent work repairs on a second home. AGENCIES

SLOW AND UNSTEADY: The Delta variant-spurred second wave has hit Australia hard and it is dealing with a delay in vaccine supply. As of August 8, Australia had just over 3 million vaccine doses available, with nearly 10 million people yet to receive even a first dose

India off UK red list but no relief as vaccines used here not cleared

India off UK red list but no relief as vaccines used here not cleared

Naomi Canton

London: 06.08.2021

India will be moved off the UK’s red list this Sunday, bringing relief to tens of thousands of Indian students and opening the door for Indian nationals without UK residence rights to travel to Britain for the first time since April 23.

On Thursday, UK announced that India, Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE will be moved from the red to the amber list on August 8 “as the situation in these countries has improved”. But whilst those who have been double vaccinated with vaccines in the UK, Europe and the US will be exempt from home quarantine upon arrival from an amber list country, those who have received vaccines in India — Covaxin, Sputnik V and Covishield — will still have to self-isolate for 10 days, sparking claims of discrimination against India’s vaccines.

Welcome news for Indian students planning UK visit

The UK government says that anyone fully vaccinated under the UK vaccination programme, or vaccinated with a vaccine authorised by the European Medicines Agency for Europe, Swissmedic for Switzerland, or FDA for the US, who arrives from an amber country, is exempt from home quarantine.

No doses of the Moderna vaccine, which has been authorised by the FDA and approved by the Indian government, have arrived in India yet. From 8.30 am IST on August 8, when India moves to the amber list, travellers from India must now quarantine at home or the place they are staying for 10 days, as well as take a pre-departure Covid-test and two tests after arrival. This replaces the system under the red list when they were required by law to quarantine in a managed hotel for 10 days — at a cost per adult of £1,750 that is set to rise to £2,285 (Rs 2.3 lakh) on August 12.

The move follows a trip by foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla to London on July 24 when he asked the UK to review its travel ban on visitors from India, stating that “Mumbai, Delhi, big cities are practically free of Covid”.

It is welcome news for the 65,000 Indian students who are expected to arrive in the UK in the next few weeks. “This will really help Indian students who cannot afford these exorbitant hotel quarantine fees,” said Indian National Students Association UK president Amit Tiwari. “Indians will have a big cost saving and it is better for their mental well-being to quarantine on campus rather than in a hotel,” said Sanam Arora, chairperson of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK.

“If someone is vaccinated in India, they should be treated the same as someone vaccinated in Europe. Or else that is discrimination,” pointed out Sunil Amar, a private banker in London. “It is amazing news and very sensible to take India off the red list because numbers are down and this means travel will be back so it will help airlines,” he said. The Joint Biosecurity Centre released data to back up the decision showing that of 5,263 travellers tested upon arrival from India between July 1 and July 21, 49 (0.9%) tested positive for Covid-19.

அமெரிக்காவுக்கு படிக்க செல்லும் வெளிநாட்டு மாணவர்களுக்கு சிக்கல்?

அமெரிக்காவுக்கு படிக்க செல்லும் வெளிநாட்டு மாணவர்களுக்கு சிக்கல்?

Updated : ஜூலை 30, 2021 05:41 | Added : ஜூலை 30, 2021 05:38

வாஷிங்டன்: அமெரிக்காவுக்கு படிக்க வரும் வெளிநாட்டு மாணவர்கள், படித்து முடித்த பின், சில நிபந்தனைகளுடன் அமெரிக்காவில் வேலை பார்க்க அனுமதி அளிக்கும் திட்டத்தை நீக்க, அந்நாட்டு பார்லி.,யில் மசோதா தாக்கல் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.

அமெரிக்காவில் படிக்க செல்லும் வெளிநாட்டு மாணவர்கள், படிப்பு முடிந்த பின், மூன்றாண்டுகள் வரை அந்நாட்டிலேயே தங்கியிருந்து வேலை பார்க்க, அந்நாட்டின் குடியுரிமை மற்றும் தேசிய சட்டம் இடம் அளிக்கிறது. இது, ஓ.பி.டி., எனப்படும், விருப்ப பயிற்சி திட்டம் என, அழைக்கப்படுகிறது.

இந்த திட்டத்தின் கீழ், 80 ஆயிரம் இந்திய மாணவர்கள் அமெரிக்காவில் வேலை பார்க்கின்றனர். இந்த திட்டத்தால், அமெரிக்க குடிமக்களின் வாழ்வாதாரம் பாதிக்கப் படுவதாக குடியரசு கட்சி எம்.பி.,க்கள் குரல் கொடுத்து வந்தனர்.இந்நிலையில் குடியுரிமை மற்றும் தேசிய சட்டத்தில் திருத்தம் கொண்டு வந்து இந்த வேலை வாய்ப்பு திட்டத்தை நீக்க வலியுறுத்தி, குடியரசு கட்சி எம்.பி.,க்கள், பிரதிநிதிகள் சபையில் மசோதா தாக்கல் செய்தனர்.

இந்த மசோதா செனட் சபையில் நிறைவேற்றப்பட்ட பின், அதிபரின் ஒப்புதலுக்கு செல்லும். 'ஆனால், இரு சபைகளிலுமே ஜனநாயக கட்சி எம்.பி.,க்கள் அதிக எண்ணிக்கையில் இருப்பதால், மசோதா நிறைவேறுவது கடினம்' என கூறப்படுகிறது.ஒருவேளை நிறைவேறினால் ஆயிரக்கணக்கான இந்திய மாணவர்கள் பாதிப்புக்கு உள்ளாவர்.

NRI couple who came for family time die of Covid

NRI couple who came for family time die of Covid

Yagnesh.Mehta@timesgroup.com

Surat:11.05.2021 

“It would have been better had they not come to India. Despite trying for days, we did not get a hospital bed for my ‘mama’ (maternal uncle). We had to toil for hours to arrange oxygen cylinders for him. My ‘mama’ was on oxygen for over four days,” rues Piyush Bhatt, afinance consultant in Ahmedabad.

Bhatt is left lamenting as the septuagenarian NRI couple’s — Rashmikant Raval (73) and his wife Sushila (72) — died of Covid in span of two days last month. Raval, a retired hotel and catering business owner, passed away in Ahmedabad on April 23, while Sushila succumbed the next day.

“After making rounds of crematoriums, it was at the fourth one that I was able to perform the last rites of my uncle. I faced same problems while cremating my aunt,” Bhatt said. The US-based couple came to India in February spend some time with childhood friends and family after over a year of remaining locked in their house in Austin, Texas, due to global pandemic. The two had promised their grandchildren in the US that they will return soon.

The couple arrived in India on February 27 and did not take Covid-19 vaccine in the US. As the condition worsened in India they took the first dose of the vaccine in Ahmedabad on April 3 and 4. Sushila tested positive for Covid-19 on April 16 while Raval developed symptoms on April 19. But Raval tested negative in all three test he underwent.

For days Raval searched for a hospital bed for himself, but in vain. “After approaching several hospitals and trying for over12 hours my mother was finally admitted to one. But my father did not get admission in any hospital since his reports were negative. His CT-scan showed infection in chest.

Raval, who hailed from Choila village in Sabarkantha, lived with Rakesh, a businessman, in Austin, Texas. The family owns a fuel pump, restaurant and few stores that they have currently rented out.

Rashmikant Raval with his wife Sushila

OCIs move Supreme Court, seek dual citizenship rights

OCIs move Supreme Court, seek dual citizenship rights

SC Seeks Response From Centre

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:13.04.2021

As many as 80 Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs), most of them residing in their homeland, on Monday requested the Supreme Court to direct the government to end treating them as second class citizens, allow them to freely express their views and dissent against government and confer on them all the rights enjoyed by an Indian citizen.

Appearing for the OCIs, 57 of whom are residents of Bengaluru, senior advocate R Venkataramani told a bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian that though they contribute a lot to India through payment of taxes and through their profession, they live in the fear of losing their OCI status because of arbitrary power conferred on government to cancel their status. The bench sought the Centre's response.

The petitioners said the statutes and policy decisions of the Indian government severely curtailed "the basic rights of OCIs and gave the government unbridled and uncanalized discretionary powers to terminate their citizenship. This subjects OCIs to a constant state of hardship, fear and uncertainty. Further, this wholly defeats the very purpose of the OCI scheme which was unequivocally to grant dual citizenship. "

The petitioners led by Bengaluru-based medicine expert Radhika Thappeta said section 7D of the Citizenship Act allows the Union Government to cancel the registration of OCIs and prohibit them from residing in India over the violation of any law or for showing disaffection to the Constitution of India. "Section 7D(b) of the Act allows the government to cancel a person’s OCI registration if they show disaffection to the Constitution of India and Section 7D(da) allows cancellation of OCI registration for the violation of any law. Both these provisions under Section 7D are arbitrary and have a chilling effect on the freedom of expression of OCIs," they said.

While the MHA notification of November 15, 2019 allowed OCIs to practice the professions of doctors, architects, advocates and chartered accountants as per the relevant laws, there are a whole list of other provisions that are arbitrarily left out of such a list without sufficient reasons, they complained.

"By limiting the number of professions that OCIs can have parity with NRIs in pursuing, several OCIs practicing other non-enumerated professions are hindered from meaningfully participating in and contributing to their professional streams in India. Although several OCIs reside and pay taxes in India, such persons are unable to meaningfully voice their grievance with local government authorities over civic infrastructure out of fear that their overseas citizenship may be cancelled for expressing their right to peacefully raise public grievances," they said.

Even while OCIs work and reside permanently in India, they are often disentitled to seek information from state authorities under the Right to Information Act, the petitioners said.

They said, the November 2019 MHA notification granted adoption rights to OCIs on par with NRIs. "However, where an OCI or NRI living abroad adopts a child from India following the inter-country adoption regulations, then the host foreign country often automatically grants foreign citizenship to the adopted child who has at least one parent as a citizen of that host country. As per Section 9(1) of the Citizenship Act, this results in the child automatically losing his or her Indian citizenship without granting any opportunity to the child to retain his or her Indian citizenship on attaining majority," the petitioners said.

Petitioners told SC that though they contribute a lot to India through payment of taxes and through their profession, they live in the fear of losing their OCI status because of arbitrary power conferred on government to cancel their status

Only NRI quota seats based on entrance exams for OCI cardholders: MHA

Only NRI quota seats based on entrance exams for OCI cardholders: MHA

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI:, MARCH 06, 2021 18:21 IST

UPDATED: MARCH 06, 2021 20:42 IST

Photo: ociservices.gov.in

OCI cardholders cannot undertake any ‘missionary, mountaineering, journalism and tabligh activities’ without prior permission of the GoI

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has reiterated through a gazette notification that Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders can lay claim to “only NRI (Non Resident Indian) quota seats” in educational institutions based on all-India entrance tests such as National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), Joint Entrance Examination (Mains), Joint Entrance Examination (Advanced) or other such all-India professional tests.

The notification also reproduced a part of the guidelines issued by the Ministry on November 15, 2019 regarding benefits to OCI cardholders, which said that OCIs are not entitled to undertake any “missionary, mountaineering, journalism and tabligh activities” without prior permission of the Government of India. The notification provides legal teeth to the guidelines.

The notification says that the OCI cardholder shall be required to obtain a “special permission or a special permit” from the competent authority or the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) or the Indian Mission “to undertake research, Missionary or Tabligh or Mountaineering or Journalistic activities, undertake internship in any foreign diplomatic missions or foreign Government organisations in India or employment in any foreign diplomatic missions in India and visit any place which falls within the Protected or Restricted or prohibited areas as notified by the Central Government or competent authority”.

OCI citizens are of Indian origin but they are foreign passport holders and are not citizens of India. India does not allow dual citizenship but provides certain benefits under Section 7B(I) of the Citizenship Act, 1955 to the OCIs.

The fresh notification replaces three previous notifications issued on the subject on April 11, 2005; January 5, 2007; and January 5, 2009, respectively. The previous notifications did not specify the special permission required for “missionary, Tabligh, mountaineering or journalistic activities” and were merely part of the November 2019 guidelines.

A Ministry official said that several OCI cardholder students have filed petitions in courts that they are eligible to get admission against general seats in medical, engineering and other government colleges if they clear the all-India tests.

In March 2019, the MHA clarified to the Karnataka High Court that students with OCI cards had “parity with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and can lay claim only on the NRI quota seats based on the all-India tests”.

However on December 15, 2020, the High Court of Karnataka directed that students under the OCI category are to be considered as “citizens of India” for admission to professional courses and asked the State government to admit them to undergraduate professional courses, including engineering, medical, and dental, even under the government and institutional quotas, and not to restrict their admission only under the NRI quota.

The March 4 notification by the MHA said that OCI card holders will have parity with NRIs in the matter of “appearing for the all India entrance tests such as National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, Joint Entrance Examination (Mains), Joint Entrance Examination (Advanced) or such other tests to make them eligible for admission only against any Non-Resident Indian seat or any supernumerary seat: “Provided that the OCI cardholder shall not be eligible for admission against any seat reserved exclusively for Indian citizens.”

OCIs are eligible for grant of multiple entry lifelong visa for visiting India for any purpose and are exempt from registration with the FRRO for any length of stay in India. The fresh notification adds that the OCI cardholders who are normally residents in India “shall intimate the FRRO by email whenever there is a change in permanent residential address and in their occupation”.

The notification gives parity to OCIs with Indian nationals in the matter of tariffs in air fares in domestic sectors, entry fees for visiting national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, the national monuments, historical sites and museums in India. It gives parity to OCIs with NRIs in the matter of inter-country adoption of Indian children subject to the compliance of the procedure as laid down by the competent authority for such adoption, purchase or sale of immovable properties other than agricultural land or farm house or plantation property and to pursue the following professions — doctors, dentists, nurses and pharmacists, advocates, architects and chartered accountants.

The MHA said that in respect of all other economic, financial and educational fields not specified in the notification, the OCI cardholder shall have the same rights and privileges as a foreigner.

An official said that the notification will not impact the 2018 decision by the government that made OCIs eligible for appointment as permanent teaching faculty in premier educational institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology, National Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes of Management, Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research, Indian Institute of Science, and Central Universities and new All Indian Institutes of Medical Sciences set up under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).

“The recruitment of OCIs in educational institutes is governed by Section 7B 2 (I) of the Citizenship Act, 1955. Central government can specify the rules by special orders,” said the official.

OCI candidates can get admission to only NRI quota seats after taking NEET: MHA

OCI candidates can get admission to only NRI quota seats after taking NEET: MHA: New Delhi: OCI candidates can only get MBBS/BDS admissions to the NRI quota seats in the medical colleges across the country based on their NEET score.The information to this effect comes from a...

6.7L gave up citizenship of India between 2015 & ’19: Govt

6.7L gave up citizenship of India between 2015 & ’19: Govt

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:10.02.2021 

More than 6.7 lakh people gave up their Indian citizenship and took the citizenship of other countries between 2015 and 2019, the home ministry informed Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

As per figures put out in reply to a question, junior home minister Nityanand Rai said the ministry of external affairs had put the total number of Indian nationals living abroad at 1.25 crore.

While1.36 lakh gave up Indian citizenship in 2019, the number was 1.25 lakh in 2018, 1.28 lakh in 2017, and around 1.45 lakh in both 2016 and 2015.

Meanwhile, around 37 lakh people were issued Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards since 2005, though the number od such people fell to 1.91 lakh in 2020 from 3.29 lakh in 2019.

ஜோ பைடன் கொரோனா குழுவில் மொடக்குறிச்சி பெண் டாக்டர்

ஜோ பைடன் கொரோனா குழுவில் மொடக்குறிச்சி பெண் டாக்டர்

Updated : நவ 11, 2020 00:44 | Added : நவ 11, 2020 00:43

ஈரோடு : அமெரிக்க அதிபராக தேர்வான, ஜோ பைடனின் கொரோனா கட்டுப்படுத்தும் குழுவில், ஈரோடு மாவட்டம், மொடக்குறிச்சியை பூர்வீகமாக கொண்ட பெண் டாக்டர் இடம் பெற்றுள்ளார்.அமெரிக்காவின், புதிய அதிபராக வெற்றி பெற்றுள்ள ஜோ பைடன், தன் பதவியேற்புக்கு முன்னதாக, கொரோனா தடுப்பு மற்றும் வழிகாட்டுதல் குழுவை அமைத்துள்ளார். இதில், மூவர் தலைமையில், 13 பேர் இடம் பெற்றுள்ளனர்.

ஆராய்ச்சி பணி

தலைமை பொறுப்பில், இந்திய வம்சாவளியைச் சேர்ந்த டாக்டர் விவேக் மூர்த்தியும், குழு உறுப்பினராக, இந்திய வம்சாவளியைச் சேர்ந்த பெண் டாக்டர், செலின் ராணி கவுண்டர், 35, என்பவரும் இடம் பெற்றுள்ளனர்.செலின் ராணி, ஈரோடு மாவட்டம், மொடக்குறிச்சி பேரூராட்சி, பெருமாபாளையத்தைச் சேர்ந்தவர். இவர், நியூயார்க் பல்கலையில் உள்ள, கிராஸ்மேன் மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரியில் உதவி பேராசிரியராகவும், அமெரிக்க நாட்டின் காசநோய் தடுப்பு பிரிவில், துணை இயக்குனராகவும் பணிபுரிகிறார்.இவர், 1998 முதல் 2012 வரை தென் ஆப்பிரிக்கா, மால்வாய், எத்தியோப்பியா, பிரேசில் போன்ற நாடுகளில் காசநோய், எச்.ஐ.வி., தொடர்பான மருத்துவ சேவை, ஆராய்ச்சி பணிகளை மேற்கொண்டுள்ளார்.மேலும், தமிழகத்தின் நீலகிரி மாவட்டத்தில் மலைவாழ் மக்களை பாதிக்கும் நோய்கள் குறித்தும், இரண்டு ஆண்டுகள் ஆராய்ச்சி செய்துள்ளார்.

'ராஜ் பவுண்டேஷன்'

செலின் ராணி பற்றி, அவரது பெரியப்பா மகனான, ஈரோட்டில் வசிக்கும், ஓய்வு பெற்ற, குடிநீர் வடிகால் வாரிய பொறியாளர் தங்கவேல் கூறியதாவது:என் சித்தப்பா ராஜ் கவுண்டர். இவர், 1966ல் அமெரிக்கா சென்று, அந்நாட்டு விமான நிறுவனத்தில் பணி செய்து, அமெரிக்காவைச் சேர்ந்த பெண்ணை, காதல் திருமணம் செய்து, அங்கேயே வசிக்கிறார்.

இவருக்கு மூன்று பெண்கள்; மூத்தவர், செலின் ராணி.இவர், அமெரிக்காவில் பிறந்து, அங்கேயே படித்து, பணி செய்கிறார். இருப்பினும், 'ராஜ் பவுண்டேஷன்' என்ற அமைப்பை, மொடக்குறிச்சியில் துவங்கி,நான்கு முறை மொடக்குறிச்சிக்கு வந்துள்ளார்.மொடக்குறிச்சி அரசு மேல்நிலைப் பள்ளி மேம்பாட்டுக்காக, பல்வேறு உதவிகள் செய்துள்ளார். செலின் ராணியின் கணவர் கிராண்ட், அமெரிக்காவில் உள்ள பத்திரிகை ஒன்றில் பணிபுரிகிறார்.செலின் ராணி, அமெரிக்க அதிபர் அமைத்துள்ள குழுவில், இடம் பெற்றதன் மூலம், மொடக்குறிச்சி பகுதி மக்கள் பெருமை அடைந்துள்ளனர்.இவ்வாறு, அவர் கூறினார்.

Chennai-born Keralite is NZ’s 1st desi minister

Chennai-born Keralite is NZ’s 1st desi minister

03.11.2020 

Priyanca Radhakrishnan, a first-generation immigrant, became New Zealand’s first-ever Indian-origin minister on Monday after PM Jacinda Ardern inducted five new ministers into her executive, two weeks after a landslide victory in the general election.

“Today has been an incredibly special day. I’m feeling a lot of things including an overwhelming sense of privilege to become part of our government,” the 41-year-old Labour Party member said. The new minister for diversity, inclusion and ethnic communities was born in Chennai but her family is from Paravur in Kerala, reports Binu Karunakaran. She went to school in Singapore before moving to New Zealand to further her education. Her Left-leaning greatgrandfather C R Krishna Pillai, a doctor, had played a major role in shaping the literary and cultural sensibilities of the state.

Radhakrishnan with PM Arden

NZ PIO min’s great-granddad was a Left leader in Kerala

Priyanca Radhakrishnan was brought up in Singapore, where her father Raman Radhakrishnan worked as an engineer before returning to India to set up his own engineering company and settle in Chennai. “I come from a politically active family; a family that is dedicated to doing their part to make the world a better place. My great-grandfather, Dr C R Krishna Pillai, was involved in Left-wing politics in India and was instrumental in the formation of Kerala,” she had written in 2014.

Radhakrishnan has spent her work life advocating on behalf of people whose voices are often unheard – women survivors of domestic violence and migrant workers who have been exploited. First elected to New Zealand’s parliament as a Labour Party representative in 2017, the new minister has also been given charge of the ministry for the community and voluntary sector, and been made associate minister for social development and employment.

She had travelled to Kerala twice last year following the death of her mother Usha. G K Nair, a grand uncle of Radhakrishnan who resides near Kalady, said she owes her political genes to her maternal great-grandfather, who had once contested an election against former Union finance minister T T Krishnamachari.

(Inputs from agencies)

Govt restores most visas for foreigners

Govt restores most visas for foreigners

Bharti.Jain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:23.10.2020

The government on Thursday restored all existing visas — barring electronic, tourist and medical visas — with immediate effect though in the case of medical visa it has been stated that foreigners intending to visit India for medical treatment can now apply afresh for this category.

The easing of restrictions will mean foreign nationals will be able to visit India for various purposes such as business, conferences, employment, studies, research and medical treatment. Visas for foreigners visiting India for medical treatment will be issued on fresh applications and they can be accompanied by an attendant as well.

In case the validity of restored categories of visas has expired, fresh ones of the appropriate category can be obtained from Indian missions or posts, said an MHA release. The Centre on Thursday also permitted OCI and PIO card-holders who intend to visit India for purposes other than tourism, to enter by air or water routes.

US’s proposed visa limit may hit Indians

The US State Department in a notification on Wednesday proposed to make changes to its visa regulations under which foreign professionals, which would fall under H-1B, would not be issued temporary visa for business. The move may impact Indian firms who send their techies on B-1 visas for a short stay to the US. P 20

Rules relaxed for OCI, PIO card-holders

As part of a “graded” relaxation of Covid-induced visa and travel restrictions for more categories of foreign nationals, the government also permitted OCI and PIO card-holders who intend to visit India for purposes other than tourism. This includes flights operated under Vande Bharat Mission, Air Transport Bubble arrangements or by any non-scheduled commercial flights as allowed by the civil aviation ministry.

All such travellers will, however, be required to strictly adhere to the guidelines of the ministry of health and family welfare regarding quarantine and other health and Covid-19 matters. Medical visa for treatment in India is much sought after by foreigners, given availability of highly-skilled medical professionals and facilities. It is also a major forex earner for the country. With electronic and tourist visas still not restored, the earlier tendency of some foreigners to bend visa rules and seek medical treatment in India while on a tourist visa will no longer be possible.

In view of the situation arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic, the government had taken a series of steps to curtail inward and outward movement of international passengers since February 2020. However, the curbs have been eased in a graded manner, as part of ‘unlock’ regime since June. With this move, the badly affected travel sector, including the worst-hit segments of airlines and hotels, could see some revival.

Full report on www.toi.in

ஆஸ்திரேலிய குடியுரிமைப் பெறுவதில் இந்தியர்கள் முன்னிலை

ஆஸ்திரேலிய குடியுரிமைப் பெறுவதில் இந்தியர்கள் முன்னிலை

29.07.2020

ஆஸ்திரேலியாவில் தங்கியிருக்கும் இந்தியர்கள் கடந்த 2019-2020 ஆண்டில் மட்டும் 38,000 பேர் குடியுரிமைப் பெற்றுள்ளனர். இது கடந்த ஆண்டைக் காட்டிலும் 60 சதவிதம் அதிகமாகும்.

கடந்த ஆண்டு ஆஸ்திரேலியாவில் தங்கியிருக்கும் வெளிநாட்டவர்கள் 2,00,000 பேர் குடியுரிமைப் பெற்றுள்ளனர். அதில் இந்தியாவைச் சேர்ந்தவர்கள் 38,000 பேர் ஆகும். மற்ற நாட்டினரைக் காட்டிலும் இந்தியாவைச் சேர்ந்தவர்களே அதிகளவில் குடியுரிமைப் பெற்றுள்ளனர்.

இதுகுறித்து ஆஸ்திரேலிய அமைச்சர் ஆலன் டட்ஜ் கூறுகையில், "சமூகத்தில் ஒருங்கிணைந்த, பன்முக கலாச்சார நாடாக மாற முக்கியமான ஒன்று மற்ற நாட்டினருக்கு குடியுரிமை வழங்குவதாகும். அதில் ஆஸ்திரேலியா வெற்றி பெற்றுள்ளது.

ஒருவர் ஆஸ்திரேலிய குடிமகனாக மாறுவது என்பது இங்கு வாழ்வதற்கும், வேலை செய்வதற்கும் மேலானது. ஆஸ்திரேலியாவின் உரிமைகள், சுதந்திரங்கள், சட்டங்கள் மற்றும் ஜனநாயகத்தை நிலைநிறுத்த அவர்கள் உறுதிமொழி ஏற்கிறார்கள். இது எங்கள் நாட்டின் பன்முக கலாச்சாரத்திற்கு கிடைத்த வெற்றியாகும்" என்று டட்ஜ் கூறினார்.

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