New Delhi, January 7
The government is taking steps to allow overseas Indian doctors to practise in the country, Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said here today.
Addressing the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, he said, “I am happy to announce that we are looking at allowing overseas Indian doctors to practice in India.” This was welcomed by around 1,200 PIOs with a thunderous applause.
Mr Ravi said his ministry would be pursuing this proposal over the next few months.
The minister also had good news for the 90,000-strong overseas Indians who had been blessed with the overseas citizenship of India (OCI) cards last year. The OCI cardholders will now enjoy parity with NRIs on an inter-country adoption.
They will also share the same privileges as resident Indians in matters of domestic airfares. And for overseas Indians wanting to make a trip to Ranthambhore or Bharatpur Sanctuary Park, the OCI card will prove to be a boon. Overseas Indians will now pay the same amount of entry fee as their Indian counterparts while visiting national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
Under the OCI scheme, which was announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2005 at the third Pravasi Divas in Mumbai, an overseas Indian could get lifelong visa, free travel to India any number of times and enjoy certain economic, educational and cultural benefits.
