10 Mar 2021  |   05:41am IST

Are sons of the soil ‘foreign nationals’ now? ask shocked Goans

The Government of India has issued new notifications that curtail the rights and liberties of OCI’s in India. Café spoke to Goan OCI’s living around the world to gauge their reaction to this development and also considering they will no longer be considered as sons of the soil and what effect it would have on them
Are sons of the soil ‘foreign nationals’ now? ask shocked Goans

 They were earlier considered Overseas Citizens of India but they have been designated as foreigners. The new notification introduces a series of new restrictions that dramatically curtails the rights and liberties of OCIs in India. They will now be required to secure a special permit to undertake “any research”, to undertake any “missionary” or “Tablighi” or “journalistic activities” or to visit any area in India notified as “protected”, “restricted” or “prohibited”.

Folks may not like it but I have always maintained my stand that OCI is nothing but a glorified long term travel document. That’s why I never opted for that booklet. The new changes by the government of India is certainly going to rock the boats of those who had hopes and plans to make other uses of that document.

Instead of OCI the government should just open up Dual Citizenship for those holding foreign passports as is done by developing nations like USA, UK, Australia etc.

- Salus Correa, Melbourne, Australia

This was a time that I was OCI card holders are basically Indians with deep rooted family and social ties to their motherland and have a sincere desire give back to India. We continue our Goan and Indian values in our adopted countries while enjoying the privilege to be treated as sons and daughters of the country where we were born and raised. The new OCI rules have brought in grief and will affect many OCI’s in several areas but the most significant impact will be for those who have business in India contributing to India’s development. They will now have to take several permissions which will discourage future investment and this is not something we want when the focus must be on a seamless process facilitating accelerated economic growth.

- Alwyn Henriques, President, Goan Overseas Association NSW, Sydney, Australia

This is truly disappointing. Indians enjoyed a unique privilege through the OCI. Unlike a lot of citizens from other countries, Indians settled abroad have immediate family back in India. The OCI provided us the opportunity to keep our ties to the mother nation alive. Most Indians abroad are in this situation as we were not able to benefit from opportunities available in India.

The government’s decision to treat OCIs as “foreign nationals “ is not going to benefit India as we have much more to offer than just financial transactions

- Glen D’Souza, Brisbane

I haven’t gone much into details of the latest two page notification issued by Ministry of Home Affairs issued on 4th March 2021, but just quick glance it makes mention of taking special permission or a Special Permit from competent authority or FRRO office for undertaking works such as a Missionary or Tabligh or Mountaineering or Journalists activities.

Let me make it very clear these changes in the latest notification don’t affect those who visit their motherland on vacations.

- Frankey Fernandez, Melbourne

There appears to be no meaningful and justifiable reasons for the change, however it appears to be a mere bureaucratic step just to frustrate those who are living abroad.

A proper and thorough consultative process with OCI holders would be a better way to bring about meaningful and mutual beneficial change through the updated notification process.

- Tony Colaco, Goan Community leader in Australia

In my view the Center’s new OCI notification will put all Indians Including Goan’s studying or working abroad in a dock. It can be described as the end of India’s dual citizenship. As per the new non-resident rules Goans residing or studying or working abroad will now have to go through the hardships of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) regulations.

- Mr. Ivory Joao, Director, Go Global - Study Abroad 


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