Date:09/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/09/stories/2009010956011300.htm

National

Smart cards from June 1

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Those migrating for jobs abroad will be given smart cards from June 1, Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said on Thursday.

Addressing journalists at the venue of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Mr. Ravi said this was part of a comprehensive e-governance project on migration. “This is one of the steps taken to ensure that no Indian worker is harassed.”

Every worker emigrating from June would be given a smart card. It would have details of the worker, his work contract, the employer and insurance.

The information would be banked with the Union government and it would be available at the Indian missions too.

The aim was to transform the emigration process into a simple and transparent process.

The project involved automation of the Protectors of Emigrants and Protector General of Emigrants offices, including phased interlinking of recruiting agents, immigration counters, insurance companies, State governments and Indian missions.

Asked about the number of cards that would be given each year, G. Gurucharan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, said that every year about eight to 10 lakh workers went abroad. “May be the next year this could be a little less because of the global downturn. But we are preparing to give smart cards to all.”

On operationalising Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s announcement that Overseas Indian Citizenship cardholders could practise medicine in India, Mr. Ravi said an order had been issued to this effect. “Now it is for bodies such as the Medical Council of India and the Dental Council of India to follow it up,” he added.