The government on Wednesday launched
the PIO card scheme to enable persons
of Indian origin (PIO) settled
anywhere in the world barring Pakistan
and Bangladesh to come to India
without visa and avail a wide range of
economic, educational and cultural
benefits in the country. With a fee of
$1,000, the grey-coloured card would
have a validity of 20 years and
benefit about 15 million people
settled in various countries for four
generations and holding citizenship
there.
Launching the scheme formally, Home
Minister L K Advani said PIO card will
confer on the holder an array of
facilities like acquisition, holding,
transfer and disposal of immovable
properties except agricultural or
plantation. The PIO card-holder would
not require a visa to visit India and
would enjoy the rights available to
non-resident Indians (NRI) in respect
to economic, financial and educational
benefits. They would also not require
to register themselves with the
Foreigners Registration Officer if
continuous stay does not exceed 180
days.
Advani said people from Pakistan,
Bangladesh would not be eligible for
this scheme because of problems of
illegal immigration. The government
may include some more countries in
this list, he added. However, the PIOs
would not have any political rights in
India, Advani said, adding they would
not have right to buy property in
Jammu and Kashmir or access to
restricted areas like any Indian
citizen. All missions abroad would
start receiving applications for PIO
cards from Wednesday.
While the estimated NRI population the
world over was 6.7 million, the number
of PIO eligibles was about 15 million.
So far, 234,556 people have already
made inquiries at various missions
abroad and shown interest about the
PIO card, Advani said quoting External
Affairs Ministry figures. While no
survey has been carried out regarding
such people, he said the "overwhelming
response" shown by these sections to
the 'India Resurgent bonds', which
scooped up $4.3 billion, indicated the
immense goodwill prevalent among
Indians settled abroad.
Explaining the problems regarding
'dual citizenship' concept, Advani
said it was a major step towards
fulfilling the aspirations of Indians
settled abroad by conferring on them
the benefits which 'dual citizenship'
would have entailed. While
Constitution amendments were necessary
for granting dual citizenship, "the
BJP was the only party which had
favoured this concept", Advani said,
adding, however, this was closest to
the dual citizenship concept.
The PIO card-holders would be able to
admit their children in educational
institutions in India under the NRI
category. The institutions include
medical, engineering colleges, IITs
and IIMs. They would also be able to
avail of various housing schemes of
Life Insurance Corporation of India,
state governments and other government
agencies. All future benefits that
would be extended to NRIs would also
be made available to the PIOs, Advani
said.
The scheme would also cover the
foreign spouse of a citizen of India
or a PIO. Advani said the scheme was
envisaged by the Vajpayee government
and Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha
had announced last year that such a
scheme would be drawn up with a view
to reinforce the emotional bonds of
Indians settled abroad as well as
respecting their desire to participate
in the development of the country of
their origin.