In a major policy turn, the Indian government has introduced tighter rules for Overseas CItizens of India-OCI- re classifying them as foreign nationals.
The new rules, put out in a circular from the Indian Home Ministry on March 4, affect many aspects of life for the Indian diaspora-from traveling to business activities and religious engagements.
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OCI card holders, who had the similar rights as any Indian citizen, must now obtain special permits for certain activities.
While visiting India, they are urged to restrict themselves from areas like Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh, doing any missionary work, and certain other religious activities.
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Even businessmen have to face additional bureaucratic hurdles as the new rules make it mandatory for them to apply for permission for acquiring and selling property and business ventures in India.
These changes have caused ripples among the Indian diaspora, leaving alienated from their homeland. To some who would wish to visit family or participate in cultural or religious events, these regulations brought in logistic challenges and emotional distress.
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We have always felt so closely connected with India, and now it feels like we are being treated like outsiders.” Key Changes to the OCI Regulations: Citizens holding OCI cards now require permission in order to travel to some restricted areas.
The new business regulations bring greater restrictions on the disposal and acquiring of property as well as conducting business, especially for non-resident Indians.
The rules may further hurt the real estate market, as a OCI cardholders who had relatively easy access to buying and selling property in the country would now need to seek special permission from the Reserve Bank of India first for the same.
The activities defined as “missionary” require govt permissions. Most especially, such activities pertain to Islam., This is seen as a threatening move against religious freedom by the minorities. These people now fear that going to a place of worship could make them a suspect.
These new rules, could be a turning point for the OCI-card holders since they may reconsider their relations with India on social and economic fronts. “If there are too many hurdles, we will just pack up and go elsewhere”, warned Thomas Abraham, chairman of the Global Organization of People of Indian origin.
While the dust settles slowly, the real implications are yet to be seen, for many. However for the Indian diaspora, the feeling remains clear: they are now foreigners in their own land.
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