Indian govt to help NRIs get legal documents in Italy

Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, June 14

Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) settled in Italy are not getting their passports renewed due to lack of legal documents related to that country.

Due to this, NRIs are facing problems in sending money to their families in India, getting work done in Italy, availing of facilities and even they are unable to buy mobile SIM cards there.

NRIs from Italy and their families living in India conveyed this to the national vice-president and former BJP MP, Avinash Rai Khanna.

They explained about the problems being faced by them related to legalising their stay in Italy.

They told Khanna that there were about 1.70 lakh Indians living in Italy. They are working in agriculture and other professions.

They said they were unable to get their old passports renewed due to lack of legal documents related to their stay there.

Due to lack of documentation, they do not have any definite work and if anyone gives them a job, they are allegedly forced to work for more than the scheduled time, without any incentive for overtime.

Khanna said the Central government would help them to get legal documents in Italy.

“I have written a letter to Union External Affairs Minister Subramanyam Jaishankar in this regard, demanding that Indians living in Italy without documents, should be provided necessary legal documents so that they can avail of the facilities and get their passports renewed without any interruption,” he added

Khanna said he had been assured by the Ministry of External Affairs that the Indian Embassy in Italy would solve problems of Indians living there.