Team Herald
PANJIM: For Shane Sebastian Pareira from Anjuna, the journey to becoming Indian has been a long and tedious one — spanning over four decades, countless visits to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) and a life lived in quiet uncertainty. But on Tuesday, as he stood at Mantralaya in Porvorim, receiving his Indian citizenship certificate from Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Shane breathed a sigh of relief.
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Born in Pakistan in 1981, Shane was brought to India as a four-month-old baby. While Shane grew up and studied in Goa, he always felt like an outsider. “Earlier it was very difficult as I was on stay visa. Every year, I had to go through the same process, with regular visits to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), proving I belonged here. I had been doing this for the last 43 years,” he said.
Shane became the second person to receive citizenship under Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Goa on Tuesday.
“I heard the news that 78-year-old Joseph Pereira from Cansaulim had got the citizenship, so I too thought of giving a try. I applied online,” he said.
Shane has three kids (including a set of twins) and runs a restaurant at Anjuna along with his wife Maria Fernandes. Shane’s new status doesn’t just impact him, it changes everything for his family.
Maria said, “I am happy now because we can move out. My kids would ask me when his friends can go out why can’t he?”
“I have a restaurant but that is in my name. But it is not enough for a family of three kids. Now he can work and our family can be a happy family,” she added.
Later, while speaking to reporters, an elated Shane said,” I have received the citizenship through CAA. It is a very nice system. I was struggling (with acquiring citizenship) earlier but now I have it within three months. Now I am Indian. I was a Pakistan national, though I have not seen Pakistan. I am feeling very happy that I have got citizenship and I am Indian now.”
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said, “I am happy that a person whose parents were Pakistan nationals has received Indian citizenship. Shane received the citizenship within three months. I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.”
