NRIs
may get voting rights: Manmohan
Hyderabad, January 7
PTI
Unveiling a string of initiatives for the benefit
of NRIs, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said
the government would soon grant voting rights to overseas
Indian workers and professionals, launch a liberal
insurance scheme for them and modernise the process
of emigration.
Inaugurating the 4th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, an
annual convention of Indian diaspora, the Prime Minister
launched Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) scheme that
confers a hassle-free, life-long multiple entry visa
for overseas Indians.
Amidst applause from a gathering of about 2,000 NRIs
from across the world, Singh handed over the first
set of OCI cards and related documents to two NRIs
-- Nibriti Rai (US) and Ifthekar Ahmad Sharif -- fulfilling
a long-cherished dream of overseas Indians.
The OCI cards, considered the first step towards
conferring full citizenship rights, will enable overseas
Indians holding foreign passports
