Close X
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
ADVT 
India

US-Based Organisation Seeks Voting Rights And Rajya Sabha Seats For NRIs

Darpan News Desk, 01 Jul, 2016 01:08 PM
    An international convention of people of Indian-origin in the US has demanded voting rights for Indian citizens living outside India and Rajya Sabha seats for NRIs.
     
    "The Election Commission of India should finalise the procedure for electronic voting before the next general election in India takes place," the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) said in a resolution passed during its annual convention in New York over the weekend.
     
    There are 10 million NRIs who are citizens of India, have no representation in the decision making process of the country of their citizenship, it said.
     
    "We urge the Government of India to nominate a few prominent NRIs as members of the Rajya Sabha (the Upper House of Parliament) so as to reinforce and further integrate the bonds between India and the overseas Indian community," GOPIO said.
     
    Over 200 delegates from 20 countries participated in the annual GOPIO convention
     
    Noting that many NRIs want to support their alma maters; set up schools and colleges in their villages and towns, and support social and environmental causes, GOPIO said however, they face major hurdles.
     
    "The clearance process through the Home Ministry is very time consuming and needs to be streamlined and made more efficient," it said.
     
    "We want the government to enact legislation to designate Fast Track Courts for NRIs/PIOs for the speedy settlement of their property, business, inheritance and other legal issues in India," it said.
     
     
    "We call upon the Government of India to enact another legislation to provide Title Insurance to ensure that their ownership in real estate is protected against forged signatures on the deed and for any such fraudulent transfer of their properties," GOPIO said.
     
    In its resolution, GOPIO asked the Indian government to implement uniform entrance fee throughout India including monuments under the jurisdiction of the states.
     
    Many NRIs/PIOs are moving back to India to be closer to their families, GOPIO said.
     
    Once they settle back in India, their social security benefits (which are generally tax free in the developed countries (income comes below the tax bracket) are taxed according to the Indian tax rules.
     
    "We strongly feel that those who are getting their social security benefits from outside India should receive tax parity similar to Indian retirees and request the Finance Ministry to change the rules. Of course, such person's Indian income must be taxed as per the rules," it said.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Cow Is Yahoo's Personality Of The Year

    Cow Is Yahoo's Personality Of The Year
    Yahoo on Monday said the 'cow' pipped all other contenders in 2015 to emerge as the personality of the year in India.

    Cow Is Yahoo's Personality Of The Year

    Nirbhaya Gangrape: Juvenile Convict Of 2012 Delhi Gang Rape Out Of Correctional Home

    Nirbhaya Gangrape: Juvenile Convict Of 2012 Delhi Gang Rape Out Of Correctional Home
    A Delhi Police official told IANS the juvenile was shifted out of the correctional home around 4-5 days ago.

    Nirbhaya Gangrape: Juvenile Convict Of 2012 Delhi Gang Rape Out Of Correctional Home

    Arun Jaitley To File Defamation Case Against Arvind Kejriwal, Kirti Azad, AAP Leaders

    Arun Jaitley To File Defamation Case Against Arvind Kejriwal, Kirti Azad, AAP Leaders
    The other AAP leaders are Kumar Vishwas, Raghav Chadha, Ashutosh, Sanjay Singh and Deepak Bajpai.

    Arun Jaitley To File Defamation Case Against Arvind Kejriwal, Kirti Azad, AAP Leaders

    Three Kashmiri Youth Held Near Attari Border

    Three Kashmiri Youth Held Near Attari Border
    Three Kashmiri youths were taken into custody after they drove a speeding multi-utility vehicle (MUV) close to the international border with Pakistan near Attari on early Sunday, BSF officials said.

    Three Kashmiri Youth Held Near Attari Border

    This Indian-American Surgeon Aims To Save Lives On Indian Roads

    This Indian-American Surgeon Aims To Save Lives On Indian Roads
    Rajasthan University-educated surgeon Dr. Dinesh Vyas, an assistant professor in the Department of Surgery at Michigan State University since 2011, has already trained over 4,000 first responders in India using a $200,000 simulator dummy

    This Indian-American Surgeon Aims To Save Lives On Indian Roads

    Sonia, Rahul Appear In Court, Granted Bail; Congress Lambasts Modi

    Sonia, Rahul Appear In Court, Granted Bail; Congress Lambasts Modi
    Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday appeared in a trial court here in the National Herald case filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and were granted unconditional bail.

    Sonia, Rahul Appear In Court, Granted Bail; Congress Lambasts Modi