Modi govt allows those staying in India on Long Term Visa to open bank accounts, purchase property
Central government has extended facilities like permission to buy property, open bank accounts and get PAN and Aadhaar cards to those from minority communities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh living in various parts of the country.
In Short
- Persons living on LTV will get permissions to buy property,open bank accounts.
- Minorities from Pakistan,Afghanistan are staying in various states.
- There are reportedly around two lakh such people, mostly Hindus and Sikhs.
People belonging to minority communities of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, staying in India on a Long Term Visa(LTV), will be now allowed to buy property, open bank accounts and get PAN cards and Aadhaar cards.
Ministry of Home affairs extended certain facilities in last two years to persons from Minority community of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, namely Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians staying on LTV in India. The facilities include affidavit in place of renunciation certificate, LTV for five years instead of two years, facilities for education and employment.
In its order to provide them fair opportunities for a more comfortable living and hassle-free movement and pursuit of economic activities within the territory of India, government has decided to extend the following additional facilities to this class of LTV holders.
FACILITIES TO COMMUNITIES LIVING ACROSS STATES
Modi government has provided the facilities to the minority community living in various states across India. Facilities include bank accounts, permission to purchase of property, self-employment, issuance of driving licence card, PAN and Aadhar cards. Members of the minority community will also be allowed free movement within the state and union territories.
Transfer of LTV papers from one state to other. Reduction of penalty amount to Rs.100, Rs.200 and Rs.500 instead of existing amount of $30, $130, $230 on non-extension of short term Visa /LTV. Permission to apply for LTV from the place of present residence when the applicants have changed place without permission.
MOST REFUGEES ARE HINDUS, SIKHS
Though the exact number of minority refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan living in India is not known, according to rough official estimates, there are around two lakh such people, mostly Hindus and Sikhs.
There are around 400 Pakistani Hindu refugee settlements in cities like Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Jaipur, Raipur, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Kutch, Bhopal, Indore, Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Delhi and Lucknow. Since the Modi government came to power in May 2014, several steps including issuance of LTV for these refugees have been initiated.
In September 2015, the government had decided to allow minority refugees from Bangladesh and Pakistan to stay even after expiry of their visas on humanitarian grounds. In April 2015, the Home Ministry rolled out an online system for LTV applications and for their processing by various security agencies.
Also read:
Government to provide hassle-free Indian citizenship to Pakistani Hindus