India to strengthen its consular services

New Delhi, Dec 21 (UNI) In a move that would help the sizeable Indian diaspora to get neighbourhood access to consular services, the Government has decided to open more Consulates in areas inhabited predominantly by Indians.

The opening of more such offices abroad will reduce the travel time of Indians to procure visas and passports from their residential locations, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said today.

Talking to mediapersons on the arrangements being made for the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) in January in Delhi, he said he had discussed the issue with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee yesterday and Finance Minister P Chidambaram earlier.

"It was agreed in principle to open more consular offices in the context of the PBD-2007," he said, adding that new Consul General's offices would be opened in places where there is a concentration of 500,000 or more Indian diaspora.

He said the decision would fulfil one of the long standing demands of Non Resident Indians.

Replying to a question, Mr Ravi said nearly 90,000 Indians abroad had been issued with Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI). The holders of OCI card could visit India without a visa and travel any number of times, but they would not have any political rights.

Admitting to reports that the People of Indian Origin (PIO) Scheme was fraught with some problems, he said the government was aware of this as many complaints had been received from PIOs in different countries. An Indian settled abroad would be given PIO card only if he produces evidence to prove his roots in the country for four generations. The PIO card is valid only for 15 years.

As many as 45,000 PIO cards have been issued so far.

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