Demand relaxation of rule to apply for card

The Pravasi Coordination Committee has urged the Centre to bring clarity on the need for Aadhaar card for NRIs.

In telegrams sent to the Prime Minister and the Union Ministers for Finance and Foreign Affairs, the committee pointed out that the lack of clarity on the issue was putting thousands of Pravasis in trouble.

Attakkoya Pallikkandy, chairman of the committee, told The Hindu that the Centre had earlier said Aadhaar was not mandatory for Pravasis. While the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIAI) officials in Kerala had reiterated this stand, several agencies the Pravasis interacted frequently were insisting on Aadhaar. He said many banks and airlines were demanding the Pravasis to show the card.

Mr. Pallikkandy wanted the government to either make it very clear that Aadhaar was not mandatory for Pravasis or relax the rules for them to get the card. He said that, as of now, Pravasis needed to stay in India for 182 days continuously in order to apply for Aadhaar card. For the huge majority of Pravasis, who were working in the Gull countries for small salaries, this was not at all possible as they would lose their jobs back there.

Mr. Pallikkandy suggested that the government allow the Pravasis to apply for the card whenever they visit home from work and do away with the 182-day rule. Since Aadhaar was being insisted for all citizens on a daily basis, it would be helpful for the Pravasis to secure a card, but without being forced to stay for six months at a stretch, he said.