NRIs to get UID cards too

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The Union Government has in principle approved a proposal to provide Unique Identification (UID) cards to overseas Indians.

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who was here at the Tenth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), said that the Centre had approved the state’s proposal to include NRIs under the beneficiaries of the UID scheme.

“NRIs should get their full rights as citizens of India. After giving them the voting rights, UID cards would be a major step by the government to make them equal to any other Indian citizen,” Mr. Chandy said.

Chandy also said that the proposal for NRI voting rights was first raised by his state.

Addressing a PBD session on Kerala, Mr. Chandy also appreciated the Non-resident Indian voters from his state who turned up in polling booths in large numbers in the last assembly election in the state.

Mr. Chandy also requested the Centre to immediately act on the release of Indian prisoners abroad, particularly in the gulf countries which is the largest destination of Malayali emigrants.

Mr. Chandy also offered to host the next Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Kerala, in Kochi.

The chief miister said that a Non-Resident Keralite Bank and an NRK university were under the active consideration of his government.