Facilities for Minority Communities from Neighbouring Countries
The NDA Government has taken a number of steps to address the problem being faced by minority communities in neighbouring countries who have come to India due to religious persecution in their country.
Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister, reviewed the facilities granted to minority communities which have come to India from neighbouring countries.
He also discussed the status of grant of Long Term Visa (LTV) and citizenship and other measures taken to streamline the process during the last two years.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has already extended the following facilities to Minority Communities:
1.
To
submit
the
application
for
registration
as
citizen
of
India
in
the
Offline
mode
by
those
who
are
not
able
to
file
applications
in
the
Online
mode
2.
Permission
to
submit
an
affidavit
in
lieu
of
the
Renunciation
Certificate
for
citizenship
3.
The
grant
of
initial
LTV
for
a
period
of
five
years
at
a
time,
instead
of
one
year
4.
Powers
for
extension
of
short
term
visa
delegated
to
Deputy
Commissioner
of
Police
(DCP)
or
Foreign
Registration
Office
(FRO)
or
Foreigner
Regional
Registration
Office
(FRRO)
who
have
applied
for
LTV
5.
Children
of
such
Pakistan
nationals
on
LTV
allowed
to
take
admission
in
schools
or
colleges
or
Universities
or
technical
and
professional
institutions
under
foreigner
quota
without
permission
from
the
State
Government
and
UT
Administration
6.
State
Governments
and
UT
Administration
empowered
to
grant
permission
to
such
Pakistan
nationals
to
engage
themselves
in
employment
of
purely
private
nature.
7.
State
Governments
and
UT
Administration
delegated
powers
for
services
like
grant
of
visit
to
additional
places,
grant
of
No
Objection
to
Return
to
India
(NORI)
and
grant
of
permission
to
change
in
mode
of
travel
and
port
of
exit.
The MHA also organised 26 Special Camps at district level in the States of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and NCT of Delhi in 2015.
During these camps, 2307 applications for LTV and 1994 applications for citizenship were received. The concerned State Governments have been advised to process these applications on priority basis.
The Union Home Minister has directed the officers to conduct more special camps in coming months and to ensure that in all pending cases, LTV and citizenship are granted before 15th August, 2016.
Many more facilities to be given to these minority communities such as opening of Bank Accounts, purchase of dwelling units for self-occupation and self-employment, issuing of driving licence, PAN card, Aadhar card and reduction of fees for registration as citizens of India are under active consideration of the Government.