-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Wishing all Goanetters | | a Prosperous | | and | | Happy New Year - 2006 | | Goanet - http://www.goanet.org | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ Saturday, January 07, 2006 11:06:43 pm IANS ]
HYDERABAD: India has received some 8,000 applications for overseas citizenship from its Diaspora and the forms will be processed soon, Minister of State for Overseas Indian Affairs Oscar Fernandes said. "More than 8,000 have applied and we expect around 50,000 more applicants for overseas Indian citizenship (OCI)," Fernandes told a press conference on the margins of the 4th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. "The applications are mainly from the US," he added. Earlier, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh handed over the documents related to the grant of overseas Indian citizenship - comprising a passport and a card - to two Indian Americans - Nivruti Rai and Iftekhar Shareef. The prime minister recalled that he had declared at last year's event his government's intention to make sure that every person of Indian origin living anywhere could aspire to become an Indian citizen. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Goa - 2005 Santosh Trophy Champions | | | | Support Soccer Activities at the grassroots in our villages | | Vacationing in Goa this year-end - Carry and distribute Soccer Balls | --------------------------------------------------------------------------
