NEW DELHI, July 13:
Keeping its promise to provide succour to refugees from neighbouring countries, the BJP-led NDA Government today approved a number of facilities to members of minority communities living in India on Long Term Visa (LTV) which include opening of bank account and permission to purchase properties.
The decisions were taken at a meeting of Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an official statement said.
The facilities will be offered to persons from minority communities of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, namely Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians staying on LTV in India.
“The move is aimed at easing out the difficulties being faced by them,” the statement said.
The facilities to be offered are opening of bank account, permission for purchase of property for self-occupation and suitable accommodation for carrying out self-employment, permission to take self-employment, issue of driving licence, PAN card and Aadhar number.
Besides, free movement within a State/UT where they are staying, transfer of LTV papers from one State to another, waiver of penalty on non-extension of short term visa/LTV on time and permission to apply for LTV from the place of present residence when the applicants have moved to the place without permission will be granted.
In order to facilitate such persons to acquire citizenship by amending Citizenship Rules 2009, the provisions will help in the following ways: the Collector/DM would be empowered to authorise an officer not below the rank of Sub Divisional Magistrate for administering the oath of allegiance to the applicant.
The powers would be delegated to the Collectors of the 16 districts in seven States — Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh for a period of two years for registration as citizens of India.
The registration fees for the citizenship of India would be reduced to Rs 100 from existing range of Rs 3,000-Rs 15,000.
Government has taken a number of steps in the last two years to facilitate the stay of persons belonging to minority communities of these countries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had, during the Lok Sabha poll campaigning in 2014, made a distinction between Hindu and Muslim refugees from Bangladesh arguing that the former should be accommodated.
“We have a responsibility towards Hindus who are harassed and suffer in other countries. India is the only place for them. We will have to accommodate them here,” Modi had said. (PTI)
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