India needs its expatriates to take the nation to the next level - Dual citizenship to all countries on cards
Parminder Singh
May 3, 2005

Expatriates of India called NRIs (Non Resident Indians) are needed now. The native population is dancing on American and European cheap money in exchange for cheap labor they can provide. With waves of new Foreign Direct Investment and booming Foreign Exchange Reserves, the country is actually losing its independence. That is exactly what happened when British came to India two hundred and fifty years back trying get cheap spice. The country is getting sold to foreigners slowly. The Government is using the foreign exchange reserves and foreign investments to pay for its current bills – but all that have to be returned some day.

The country is busy making cheap money from American and European companies allowing exploitation of Indian youth for pennies on the dollar. At the same token, India has lost its capabilities of native innovation that made India great in sixties through eighties under Late Indira Gandhi.

But there are hope. New waves of expatriates are ready to take India to the next phase of prosperity – competing at par with the Western nations. Today India has the power and ability to stand tall in technologies, arts and more!

In order to bring expatriates (NRIs) into the mainstream Government is taking some solid measures.

According to media reports, Government has good news for People of Indian Orgin. Not only are the rules for getting the status being simplified but the Government has also decided to extend dual citizenship to all countries. The PIO scheme right now covers 16 countries. A Person of Indian Origin status waives visa, besides granting rights enjoyed by Non-Resident Indians, including purchase of non-agricultural land. As per government figures, around 15 million people are likely to benefit from this scheme. Though the scheme has been on since September 2002 for the 16 countries, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has now decided to extend it to all the countries.

The rationale behind increasing the ambit and simplifying the rules is to encourage PIOs to rebuild connections with India and be part of the country's development process. Official sources said The Citizenship Act 1955 is now being amended to include all the countries. The Home Ministry will also shortly come out with the simplified rules. According to senior officials, under the new rules, instead of the three lengthy forms, there will be a single form that will seek the basic information. The Ministry has also decided in favour of a PIO smart card. ``It will be a simple card (to be printed at a Government of India security press) which will carry details like name, country of residence and date of issuance,'''''''' said a senior official. Applications for PIO status put on hold since the Government decided to simplify the process will be accepted as soon as the simplified norms are notified. ``There are some applications made under the previous regime that are lying with various Indian embassies. These will also be processed soon after the new rules are notified,'''''''' added an official.

India needs its expatriates to take the nation to the next level - Dual citizenship to all countries on cards
Parminder Singh
Expatriates of India called NRIs (Non Resident Indians) are needed now.
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