More benefits for OCI card holders

The Indian government has extended more benefits to overseas Indians holding the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said yesterday.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2007, the annual conclave of the Indian diaspora, Ravi said: "We have decided to extend a wider range of benefits to OCI cardholders. I am happy to announce new benefits: parity with non-resident Indians on inter-country adoption and parity with Indian nationals in entry fees for national parks and wildlife sanctuaries."

The OCI scheme was launched by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the diaspora meeting last year in Hyderabad that offers overseas Indians staying in countries allowing dual citizenship equal rights with Indian citizens in India except for some constitutional rights like election to constitutional posts and appointment as judges in Supreme Court or high courts.

Stating that the scheme has received overwhelming response, Ravi said, "We have so far issued over 90,000 OCI cards."

He also added that the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) is working on a host of other benefits including allowing overseas Indian doctors to practice in India.

On the plight of Indian workers abroad, Ravi mentioned the social security agreement that was signed between India and Belgium last year.

According to the agreement, Indians working on a short-term, contract of up to 60 months in Belgium are exempted from social security contributions in the host country provided they continue to make social security payments in their home country.

Coming to Indian workers in the Gulf, he mentioned the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between India and the UAE last month that grants the protection of the rights of Indian workers in that country.

"Over the next few, I am confident that we will conclude and sign similar bilateral pacts with Kuwait, Bahrain and the other GCC countries," he said.