Hi Elisabeth, The term NRI might be sometimes informally used to represent non-Indian nationals, but everyone knows that in order to be a true NRI one needs to be an Indian National. Please check with the Indian authorities. I remember I have checked this last year and it was very clear to me that you need to be an Indian National to be a true NRI. I accept that the term is sometimes used in the generalised way to include all PIOs but that is indeed incorrect.
The right of vote in India is only given to Indian Citizens. Not even the newly created Overseas Citizens of India have the right to vote. I do not consider myself a NRI. At the most, I am a PIO. I cannot see why the real NRIs (i.e. those who are Indian Citizens residing outside India) should not have the right to vote. This happens with many other democratic countries where their citizens can vote abroad through their countries' diplomatic representations. Best regards, Paulo Colaco Dias. > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of Elisabeth Carvalho > Sent: 28 April 2006 17:28 > To: Goa's premiere mailing list, estb. 1994! > Subject: RE: [Goanet] Voting rights for NRI Goans > > The term now encompasses all Indians residing outside > of India, including Indians who have acquired > citizenship of other countries and second-generation > PIOs. Hence, we are primarily taking about Indians in > the US, Canada, Uk, Australia, and so forth. > > Here is a definition from Wikipedia: > "A non-resident Indian (NRI) is an Indian citizen who > has migrated to another country. Other terms with the > same meaning are (somewhat self-deprecating in > context) desis, overseas Indian and expatriate Indian. > For tax and other official purpose the government of > India considers any Indian national away from India > for more than 180 days in a year an NRI. In common > usage, this often includes Indian born individuals who > have taken the citizenship of other countries." > > To me democracy is a vehicle of representation. If I > was a Goan residing in Goa, I certainly would not want > some second-generation expat who shows no signs of > interest in the native country, having the right to > vote. Will this right to vote, be pegged to any sort > of commitment? Will it require some amount of > residency or financial investment? If not, the right > to vote will eventually end up being a vote for > outdated loyalties and/or issues viewed through the > prism of an expat's viewpoint, which may not be > relevant to Goa/India's realities. > > Elisabeth _____________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list ([email protected])
