PIO CARD-THE CONNECTING BOND
A French scholar Romaine Rolland rightly said “There is one place on the face of earth where all the dreams of living men have found a home from the very earliest days when man began the dream of existence, it is India.”
A considerable population of the Indians exists in Gulf regions, Mauritius, East Africa, Australia, and Canada. About 1.1 million exist in the Caribbean and South American countries. Moreover 1.7 million live in the United States, 3 million in gulf areas and in UK they form the largest cultural community.
Since independence, the Indians settled abroad have been returning to discover new opportunities for interacting with their homeland. These Indians who have settled in the far off lands miss their own country and make every effort to connect with their motherland in some way or the other either by purchasing property or networking with their relatives etc.
Respecting the sentiments of such nationals who want to participate in the development of their country, the Government of India launched a unique scheme on 31st March, 1999 so that they could obtain a dual citizenship. It was revised and renamed as the PIO card scheme in 2002 and came into force on 15th September 2002. This allows visa free entry to the people of Indian origin and gives them the right to enjoy all the privileges enjoyed by (NRIs) including the purchase of non-agricultural land.
Indian passport holders, the spouses of Indian citizens or PIO card Holders, people whose parents/grandparents/great grandparents were born or permanently residing in India and other territories that became part of India thereafter are eligible for applying for this card, provided neither of these people were the citizens of any other country specified by the Central Government. It would not be issued to people of Indian origin living in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Moreover, these provisions should be in confirmation with the Government of India Act, 1935. These eligible contenders apply for the issuance of the card in the Indian Mission of the country where they are residing, and the same is authorized by an officer notified for the purpose or the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs. All the applications for issue or renewal of a PIO Card are to be made in the prescribed formats and accompanied by documentary evidence to show that the applicant is a person of Indian origin as defined.
The PIOs enjoy several economic, educational and literary benefits under the purview of this scheme. It is not mandatory for them to carry visas on their visits to India. If the continuous stay does not exceed 180 days then there is no need to register with the Foreigners Registration Officer however if the stay exceeds 180 days, then the registration is required to be done within a period of 30 days of the expiry of 180 days.
The PIO card holders also avail the services and future advantages available to the NRIs like: holding, acquiring, transferring and disposal of immovable properties in India except agricultural and plantation properties, admission of students in educational institutions including colleges and schools in India under the general category quota for NRIs and benefiting from various housing schemes of Life Insurance Corporation of India, State Governments and other Government agencies. They can purchase shares up to 5 per cent of the paid-up capital of an Indian company. However, they are not allowed to enjoy political rights in India. If someone has done some exceptional work associated with the development of the country or its infrastructure then a Gratis PIO card is issued in their name as a compliment to the effort exerted on their behalf.
Granting PIO cards and Overseas citizenship to Indians has certainly lent a hand in restoring and reinforcing the emotional bond amongst these Indians with the land of their origin and has encouraged the social and cultural development of their own country.
A considerable population of the Indians exists in Gulf regions, Mauritius, East Africa, Australia, and Canada. About 1.1 million exist in the Caribbean and South American countries. Moreover 1.7 million live in the United States, 3 million in gulf areas and in UK they form the largest cultural community.
Since independence, the Indians settled abroad have been returning to discover new opportunities for interacting with their homeland. These Indians who have settled in the far off lands miss their own country and make every effort to connect with their motherland in some way or the other either by purchasing property or networking with their relatives etc.
Respecting the sentiments of such nationals who want to participate in the development of their country, the Government of India launched a unique scheme on 31st March, 1999 so that they could obtain a dual citizenship. It was revised and renamed as the PIO card scheme in 2002 and came into force on 15th September 2002. This allows visa free entry to the people of Indian origin and gives them the right to enjoy all the privileges enjoyed by (NRIs) including the purchase of non-agricultural land.
Indian passport holders, the spouses of Indian citizens or PIO card Holders, people whose parents/grandparents/great grandparents were born or permanently residing in India and other territories that became part of India thereafter are eligible for applying for this card, provided neither of these people were the citizens of any other country specified by the Central Government. It would not be issued to people of Indian origin living in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Moreover, these provisions should be in confirmation with the Government of India Act, 1935. These eligible contenders apply for the issuance of the card in the Indian Mission of the country where they are residing, and the same is authorized by an officer notified for the purpose or the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs. All the applications for issue or renewal of a PIO Card are to be made in the prescribed formats and accompanied by documentary evidence to show that the applicant is a person of Indian origin as defined.
The PIOs enjoy several economic, educational and literary benefits under the purview of this scheme. It is not mandatory for them to carry visas on their visits to India. If the continuous stay does not exceed 180 days then there is no need to register with the Foreigners Registration Officer however if the stay exceeds 180 days, then the registration is required to be done within a period of 30 days of the expiry of 180 days.
The PIO card holders also avail the services and future advantages available to the NRIs like: holding, acquiring, transferring and disposal of immovable properties in India except agricultural and plantation properties, admission of students in educational institutions including colleges and schools in India under the general category quota for NRIs and benefiting from various housing schemes of Life Insurance Corporation of India, State Governments and other Government agencies. They can purchase shares up to 5 per cent of the paid-up capital of an Indian company. However, they are not allowed to enjoy political rights in India. If someone has done some exceptional work associated with the development of the country or its infrastructure then a Gratis PIO card is issued in their name as a compliment to the effort exerted on their behalf.
Granting PIO cards and Overseas citizenship to Indians has certainly lent a hand in restoring and reinforcing the emotional bond amongst these Indians with the land of their origin and has encouraged the social and cultural development of their own country.
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