Indian passport now commands respect across globe: VK Singh

Tribune Reporters

Rohtak, November 14

Union Minister of State for External Affairs Gen (retd) VK Singh has stated that the Indian passport now commands respect across the globe, thanks to the policies of Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre.

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating a Post Office Passport Sewa Kendra (POPSK) here on Wednesday, he stated that these centres would be set up in all 543 Lok Sabha segments across the country, and eventually at all Head Post Offices.

“The government wants that no resident should have to travel more than 50-60 km to get passport issued. We have also simplified the procedure for issuance of passports and made it friendly for different sections like single parents, saints and orphans,” the minister maintained.

He explained that in the new format, it was not mandatory for the divorced women to mention the name of their former husband, the saints could write the name of their guru instead of their father and the date of birth of orphans stated by the managers of orphanages would be accepted. Similarly, the name of single parent was now acceptable, he added.

Gen Singh asserted that the BJP government had abolished the role of middlemen by making the issuance of passports transparent and user-friendly. He said the residents could now apply for their passport with the help of their smartphone or computer at the click of mouse.

‘1 crore passports being issued every year’

Sonepat: After inaugurating a POPSK here, Gen (retd) VK Singh said that after simplification of the passport issuing exercise, nearly one crore passports were being issued every year in the country.

Stating that it was the 11th such passport office in Haryana and 235th in the country after the exercise was started from Vijaywada in 2014.

Talking to mediapersons, the minister said that the state police were the second best in the country in completing the formalities of verification of the passport applications.

Sonepat MP Ramesh Kaushik, Regional Passport Officer Satyajal Pande, Director, Postal Services, Nirmal Singh and Divisional Passport Officer Ojender Singh were also present.