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.
Comments
This women has gone crazy.... evey time she opens her mouth she spills hatred and venom.... i laugh and feel pity on those people who elected her on what basis they have elected her i dont know.....can you point out a single area where she has done good thing for the society...... i havent seen she speak about her work about the development....... she is into communal politics only
Get "wedlock with Yeddi", 2nd time ?
Abhi counsi shaadi ?
soon she will be out of BJP....
BJP has no need to join hand with other terror-communal organisations. They are one who spits communal venom all the time
Who joined hands with PDP?? Thuppakki Shobha forgot that..!!
Wonderfull Akkama Akka, what about Baj Ranji? Terrorist RSS? What about your Yeddi Chaddi?
you pull of the gate, one way Trafic? not good nowadays every were two way trafic Akkamma, being sitting MP you have no knowledge because always behind Yeddi. so better hang yourself or get wedlock with yeddi, then only you Improve>
BJP's policy, those who pass deregatory remarks and spread communilism, they will get ministerial berth. During next reshuffle Shobakka will become a Minister of Communalism. Shobakka, don't be too smart, otherwise you will loose your looted Coffee Estate in Madikeri.
what about PDP Shobha kandodi arent they anti-nationals now ?
Yabba Khandody opened the mouth. Created only for desh drohi rss activity and communal clash.
jaa bahen shadi kar le... you will have better life than this...
Madam,
If we agree by your words, then what is your government in center is doing. Ban them. You want to play politics by keeping them active and polarise hindu votes. One think you forgot that people of coastal karnataka are highly educated. Yor can see the latest PUC results. So dont fool. It may backfire on you. Jai Hind
This woman always spits the venom on other community...
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