Goanetters annual year-end meet is on Dec 27, 2010 (Monday) from 4-6 pm at Institute Piedade (near Hotel Mandovi, opp Bread & More) in Panjim. Do come along. RSVP via SMS 9822122436, [email protected] or 2409490 (after 2 pm).
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * A senior friend of mine recently wrote in to say that, despite all the promises about overseas Goans getting PIO or OCI (person of Indian origin or overseas citizen of India) status, the reality was different. She wrote: "The small fry at the embassy counter make things impossible, even when we show them our diplomas from Goan colleges. I intend applying for a PIO as we have property in Goa." I've heard this from others too... and apparently there could be some problems arising from Goa's different historical background. If you have had any experiences in this field, eitherway, would you mind sharing it with Goanet? The other long-pending problems is of Goan who emigrated to Pakistan. As Manohar Parrikar once rightly pointed out, they were not *political* but *economic* migrants to Karachi and other areas. That too, in *pre-Partition* times. The kind of harassment they face while travelling back to Goa, in terms of visas and reporting to the police, is quite unfair. But nothing has been done over this issue, as far as I am aware. Your thoughts and inputs would be helpful. FN
