The decision of the Indian government to ease the coronavirus-linked global travel restrictions imposed on those having OCI cards has given a big relief to many stranded overseas citizens of India across the world.
OCI card is issued to people of Indian origin globally which gives them almost all the privileges of an Indian national except for the right to vote, government service and buying agricultural land. The OCI card gives them a visa-free travel to India.
On Friday, the central government allowed certain categories of OCI card holders, who are stranded abroad, to come to the country. Earlier, according to the regulations issued by the Indian government in April, visas of foreign nationals and OCI cards were suspended as part of the new international travel restrictions following the COVID-19 pandemic.
This privilege of visa free travel to India was causing distress among a large number of people of Indian-origin and Indian citizens in countries like the US whose children were OCI card holders as they were born in this country.
Many Indian parents, several of whom lost their jobs as a result of the economic crisis due to coronavirus pandemic, but were not allowed to take the special evacuation flights of Air India from various US cities, took to social media and urged the Indian leaders to allow them to travel to India.
“This is a big relief for the OCI card holders. It was a humanitarian crisis in the making. I am pleased that the Indian Government listened to their voices,” said social activist Prem Bhandari, chairman of Jaipur Foot USA, who has been taking up the cause of the OCI card holders.
Dr Arathi Krishna, former deputy chairperson of NRI Forum of Karnataka government, who had been demanding this relaxation, many of the thousands of stranded OCI card holders in defferent parts of the world were in pursuading her to exert pressure on the authorities concerned for this much needed relaxation.
The restrictions on traveling of OCI card holders to India was issued by govt of India on March 13 in the wake of global outbreak of coronavirus pandemic.
She said: "Many parents who are Indian nationals could not travel for emergency purpose to India after repatriation flights started due to their minor children being OCI card holders. Many children who were OCI card holders could not travel to India to perform last rites when there was death in their family due to these restrictions"
"I was constantly pressurising and bringing these issues to the attention of ministry officials in External Affairs and Home Affairs departments. I was following up with Mr Dammu Ravi who is heading the COVID task force task firce in the ministry of overseas Indian affairs who took interest in solving this problem through his consistent efforts with MHA. Iam thankful to Fireign Secretary too for his efforts and concern and to MHA for making it easier now for OCI card holders to travel in repatriation flights with emergency reasons," she said.
Uttara Kannada deputy commissioner SS Nukul on Saturday passed the order prohibiting Jayant Naika, son of Govinda Naika, a resident of Mavalli in Murudeshwar from staying in the district for next three months.
Comments
I think this is the best way police can do. Whoever do mischief and creating problem in their town should throw them to other state for 5 years. Istead of putting them in Jail.
They not allowed visit their family upto 5 years. Then they knows the values of human being.
send him to hell forever. he is a culprt
Kick him out to china or pakistan border
Huballi is not far....send him to Andaman.....or Saturn would be better....
Good Move... The authorities should recognize the trouble makers and give harsh punishment so that the society will be peaceful...
There are many authorities who wear bangles and fear the cheddis. its time to know that cheddis evil power are diminishing day by day and there is no need to worry and live in fear.
The authoriites should do their jobs without fearing the consequences... Do good to the society ... God's help come when our intention is right.
He should have been booted out at least for one year... so that other monkeys will learn .... He may be following the foot steps of his Guru Mutalik and may be demanding 10 laks to start a riot .....
Good Job done by the district police. he should be thrown behind the bars for ever for disturbing peace
Kick them out of Country.Waste Bodies.
Hats off to super star nukul (mr.s.s.nukul), d.c of uttara kannada, for at last showing the guts and courage of
Power of his respected post, to maintain the law & order of the district, by thrwoing out this so called \gandi naali ka
Keeda\" out of the district for the benefit of the peace loving people belonging to all the communities, who are allowed to live & let live harmoniously. Long live india & indians. Jai ho."
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