Bharti Jain | TNN | Apr 6, 2016, 11.05 PM IST
NEW DELHI: Religious minorities from Pakistan staying in India on a long term visa (LTV) may soon be issued Aadhaar card, PAN card and driving licence, besides being allowed to open bank accounts and purchase a house in India without prior approval of the Reserve Bank of India.
As part of its constant effort to review the hardships faced by Pakistani nationals belonging to minority communities like Hindus and Sikhs, the government proposes to grant them facilities to ease their stay in India on a long-term visa. These include dispensing with the requirement of personal appearance before the FRRO/FRO for registration, a must for Pakistani nationals. The home ministry also proposes to allow them to move freely within the state or Union territory where they are staying, instead of restricting their movement within the place of stay.
However, the real benefits on the cards for minority refugees from Pakistan include allowing them to take up self-employment or do business "which is considered safe from security point of view" and permission for purchase of dwelling unit for self-occupation and suitable accomodation for carrying out self-employment without prior approval of the RBI, on fulfilment of certain conditions.
Pakistanis granted long-term visa by Indian government are also proposed to issued driving licence, PAN card and aadhar card.
Such minorities, who have chosen to stay in India for fear of persecution back home in Pakistan, are also proposed to given facilities such as permission for transfer of LTV papers from one state/UT to another and waiver of penalty on non-extension of short term visa/long term visa on time.
Top Comment
Timely good gesture.
candu with time
As per the home ministry proposal, on which comments have been invited by April 18, the procedure for grant of Indian citizeship to such nationals belonging to the minority communities in Pakistan has been simplified. The collector, deputy commissioner or district magistrate may authorise, in his absence, an officer not below the rank of SDM to administer the oath of allegiance to the applicant.
The Modi government also proposes to cut the fee for registration of Pakistani minorities as Indian citizens from Rs 5,000 (under registration) or Rs 15,000 (under naturalisation) to a uniform amount of Rs 100 each at the time of application and at the time of grant of certificate of registration/naturalisation.