Cabinet eases Citizenship Rules for minority migrants

In a bid to ease the lives of the foreign minority migrants in India living on Long Term Visa (LTV), the Union cabinet on Wednesday amended Citizenship Rules 2009.

The Cabinet meeting here was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The Union Cabinet approved facilities being extended to persons from minority communities of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, namely Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians staying on Long Term Visa (LTV) in India," an official statement said.

The move is aimed at easing out the difficulties being faced by foreign migrants.

Now the foreign migrants living in the country on the LTV can open bank accounts, get PAN card, Aadhaar card and driving licence.

It also allows the migrants to purchase property for self-occupation and suitable accommodation for carrying out self-employment.

The decision would also "allow free movement within the State or Union Territory where they are staying, permission to take self-employment, transfer of LTV papers from one State to other, waiver of penalty on non-extension of short-term Visa/LTV on time, permission to apply for LTV from the place of present residence when the applicants have moved to the place without permission".

The government also clarified that the Collector or District Megistrate would be empowered to authorise an officer not below the rank of Sub-Divisional Magistrate for administering the oath of allegiance to the applicant.

--IANS

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