Families of Abducted Indians Still Await to Meet Swaraj June 09, 2018 12:11
A Menage of Indians who were abducted by few unknown gunmen in Afghanistan claims they were turned away from the Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday.Relatives of three of the seven Indians who protested in front of Swaraj’s ministry with some activists from All India Students Association (AISA) on Thursday claimed that some authoritarian's from her ministry promised an assemblage once the minister returned from her trip to South Africa.Nevertheless, sources claimed that their meeting on Saturday was rescheduled to reckon some representatives from KEC, the company the seven Indian engineers were working for when they were abducted a month ago.Among those who went to meet Swaraj were Prem Chand Mahto and Mohan Kumar Mahto (not related), both from Jharkhand’s Giridh district.Prem Chand Mahto’s 28-year-old son Hulas Mahto and Mohan Kumar Mahto’s father were among those who were taken hostage.The seven Indian engineers were abducted from Afghanistan’s Baghlan area. Although no group claimed the abduction, Baghlan province governor blame it on he Taliban.Indian government has said it was in touch with Afghan government for updates, although the ministry has refused to part with details citing security concerns.By Sowmya Sangam
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Passports of Five NRIs Revoked for Abandoning Wives Abroad May 30, 2018 04:20
Indian government, for the first time has revoked passports of five Non-Resident Indians on the accusation of abandoning their wives soon after wedlock or following conflicts abroad.The evolution has come after Ministry of External Affairs agreed to a proposal by Union Women and Child Development Ministry to issue rigorous action in NRI marital dispute cases.The law ministry as well this week acknowledged a proposal by WCD ministry in issuance of order through MEA website in such cases.“This is a crucial step the government has taken to curb this fast-growing menace as we are abandoned with complaints where brides are dumped by NRI grooms post weddings,” a senior WCD ministry official said.The revoking of passports will force NRI grooms to return to India and face the trial as they had been evading arrests by not responding to summons despite non-bailable warrants issued against them, the official said.The measure has been taken in cases where look-out circulars were issued last month as a part of standard operating procedure. The authorities have been receiving pleadings of impostors, forsaking, domestic violence, extra-marital relationships, ex parte divorce, duping of money after promising wedlock and illegal retention of children's custody among other pleadings.The ministry official further said, a large number of NRI Matrimonial dispute cases remain pending on account of non-appearance of the perpetrator jeopardizing women and children’s future.Under the chairmanship of secretary, WCD ministry an Integrated Nodal Agency was constituted to work on the issues related to NRI Matrimonial Dispute. The proposed measures are such as connecting the property of wife deserters and their families in India to deter such activities.The surveys by few Non-Governmental Organizations bespeak that there are thousands of women states of Punjab, Gujarat, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala who have been deserted by their spouses. In umpteen cases the abandoned women and their families impeach men and their kin of charging heavy dowry and then deceiving them.By Sowmya Sangam
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Indian Descents to have Links with Crime Gangs of United Kingdom May 14, 2018 10:10
131 Indian origin people, who have changed their nationality to British have been found to have links to organized crime gangs of United Kingdom.It as well showed that considering 131 Indians, 141 Somalis, 78 Poles, 47 Sri Lankans and 44 Nigerians were among crime gangs who changed their nationality.According to UK’s National Crime Agency’s, Albanians were the UK’s largest foreign born criminal group followed by Pakistanis, who are mostly thought to be active in wholesale supply of heroin.The figure of Pakistan born people involved in organized crime gangs decreased by almost half as out of 860 gangsters, about 393 have gained British or nationality, as a result Pakistanis on the list dropped to fourth place.“The vast majority of members of organized crime groups in UK is British. The data is an important tool to help measure risk, avoid duplication of work between law enforcement partners and helps inform government,” said NCA spokesperson.Ferocious gangsters, drug dealers and human traffickers are among a whole of 2,083 Britons, born abroad and being progressive members of crime gangs in UK.In the figures, contrasting birth nationality and present-day nationality, ample number of organized criminals from India, Pakistan, Somalia, Poland and Kosovo appeared to be British or European Union nationals.The data from NCA disclosed that although up to 80 percent of criminals in UK were British nationals, merely 73 percent were born in UK.By Sowmya Sangam
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Indians are in Highest Numbers to Receive Job Authorization in U.S: Pew Research Center report May 14, 2018 07:14
Indians in United States comprised the ample group of graduate students who got authorization to persist and work in the country between 2004 and 2016, according to a Pew Research Center report.Chinese students were the second largest group, followed by South Koreans among 1.5 million graduate students who were able to work in United States after graduation.Pew associate director Neil Ruiz said, “The Optical Practical Training program has grown to become the primary way the U.S has retained foreign students graduating with Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) degree from its colleges and universities.”He further added, “Foreign students obtaining authorization to remain and work in U.S after graduation come from all corners of the globe and major metro areas in U.S tend to attract them in large numbers.”444,400 Indians, that is 30 percent of the total were able to remain and work in United States whereas 90,800, that is 6 percent of South Koreans and 3,13,500, that is 21 percent of Chinese students remained to work after graduation in United Sates.The OPT allows students on F-1 visa to work in U.S temporarily for 12 to 36 months related to their area of study, however STEM students are permitted to extend their temporary OPT for another two years. By Sowmya Sangam
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Tremendous Increase in NRI Voter Registrations tells Election Commission of India April 27, 2018 11:44
New Delhi:Indian Election Commission has decided to promote proxy voting rights, to Non Resident Indains, on the lines of service voters, the issue is being debated again as the Government of India has moved a bill in Loksabha.A huge number of NRI’s Registered volunterly as “Overseas Electors” from different parts of the world, according to the latest data received by the administrative authorities and the Election commission.But as far as the voters are concerned, the number of registered voters are still found to be very less compared to the total number of citizens living abroad.The importance of Voting is again bought in to the picture, and is being debated over again as the government has moved the bill and passed it in the Lok Sabha in order to extend proxy voting rights to the NRI’s on lines termed as ‘service voters’. The bill provides necessary provision as coming to India to cast vote on ballot caused hardship to the Overseas VotersAs of now, it is said that the Non Residential Indians, who live and work overseas, and they have not given up their Indian Citizenship, can cast their vote in their respective constituencies where they are registered to have Right to Vote.By Lokesh
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United States May Lose Its Competitiveness Due to Tightening of H-1B Rules August 09, 2017 09:52
According to an American think tank the top IT companies in the United States would find it highly difficult to attract more fresh talent from countries such as India and may lose its competitiveness, says a report published in the Economic Times. Center for Global Development (CGD) report says that the H-1B visa which is under clampdown by the Trump Administration is sought mostly by the Indian IT students, but it is beneficial for both US and India. Co-author of the report, Gaurav Khanna has been quoted by saying that it is important to create equal opportunities for students of both the countries in the IT sector as they allow growth as well as innovation in both the countries. The reports, titled as “The IT Boom and Other Unintended Consequences of Chasing the American Dream” provides detailed look on how H-1B visas affect the economies of both US and India. The report says that both the economies have been benefited significantly due to H-1B visas. The research for the paper has been done with the help of documents since the year 2000 and has been found significant growth in the salary of the workers in US in 2010 due to the H-1B program.
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Trump Administration Wants to Block 'Startup Visas' July 11, 2017 11:09
The Trump administration is planning to rescind an Obama-era program that would allow foreign entrepreneurs who launch startup companies in the U.S. to live in the country. The program will allow the non-U.S. citizens who had launched companies that has won $100,000 in government grants or received $250,000 as venture capital investment can stay in the U.S. for a renewable 30-month term. Finalized in the last days of the Obama administration, was set to take effect July 17. The Trump administration has announced that it would delay the program until next March as the Department of Homeland Security launches an additional review of the so-called "startup visa." A notice that the department issued indicates that in the interim the administration will propose rescinding the program. "Big mistake," Steve Case, founder of America Online and now chief executive officer of the Revolution LLC investment fund, said in a Twitter statement. "Immigrant entrepreneurs are job makers, not job takers." "At a time when countries around the world are doing all they can to attract and retain talented individuals to come to their shores to build and grow innovative companies, the Trump Administration is signaling its intent to do the exact opposite," Bobby Franklin, president and CEO of the trade group said. "There is little benefit to losing any more ground in attracting entrepreneurs and their investments," the senators, which include Arizona’s John McCain and Jeff Flake, Utah’s Orrin Hatch, and Jerry Moran of Kansas, said in the letter. By Premji
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Indian-American appointed U.S. Ambassador to Peru June 29, 2017 07:34
United States President Donald Trump has appointed an Indian-American as the new U.S. Ambassador to Peru. Krishna R Urs, who is a career service American diplomat since 1986 is currently 'Charge d'Affarires of U.S. Embassy in Spain's capital Madrid, where he also served as the Deputy Chief of Mission. During the three decades of his service at State Department, Mr. Urs as specialized in economic issues and developed extensive policy experience in the Andean region of South American. A media release said that Mr. Urs has served at seven U.S. Embassies and also as a senior leadership positions in Washington D.C. Mr. Urs completed his MS from the University of Texas and did his graduation in BS from Georgetown University. He speaks fluent Spanish as well as some Hindi and Telugu. Before appointing as the U.S. Ambassador to Peru, he served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Affairs and Chief of U.S. Government Aviation Negotiator at the Department of State from November 2010 until June 2014. He has also served as Director in the Office of Aviation Negotiations in the Bureau of Economic, Energy and Business Affairs in the Department of State, Charge d'Affaires, at the US Embassy in La Paz, Bolivia, Deputy Chief of Mission at the same embassy, Director of the Office of Economic Policy and Summit Coordination in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the Department of State. Indian-American self made billionaire in Chicago AMandeep
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US Senator slams Chinese media for threatening Indian-origin June 24, 2017 12:19
A top U.S. Senator has slammed Chinese media for “threatening” Indian-origin chancellor of the University of California, San Diego for hosting the Dalai Lama. The Tibetan spiritual leader delivered the commencement address at the University of June 7. California Senator, Dianne Feinstein said: “I find it unconscionable that a reporter for the Global Times, a mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, would threaten UC San Diego and its chancellor and students for inviting the Dalai Lama to speak.” In a statement, Feinstein demanded the Chinese newspaper to apologize and retract the article that threatens to withhold visas from Chancellor Pradeep Khosla but also suggests that the university would be punished by withholding students. “The newspaper’s portrayal of the Dalai Lama as an anti-China separatist is also patently false,” she said. “I’ve known the Dalai Lama for more than 25 years and was directly involved in the latest discussions between him and the Chinese government. The Dalai Lama doesn’t wish to separate Tibet from China. Rather, he strives for greater autonomy so Tibetans may freely practice their faith,” Feinstein said. “The Dalai Lama’s desire to end religious persecution for his people doesn’t make him a separatist, it makes him a peaceful leader who should serve as an inspiration to all students. “The Chinese government and the media outlets it directly controls should recognize this and not threaten Americans or American institutions,” said the Senator from California. In its editorial on June 20, Global Times threatened the University Chancellor, saying: “Khosla must bear the consequences for this.” It went on to say: “His support for Tibet independence will affect his personal and the university’s exchanges with China. Chinese universities will take cooperative programs with it into prudent reconsideration. “It’s suggested that relevant Chinese authorities not issue visas to the chancellor and not recognize diplomas or degree certificates issued by the university in China.” The International Campaign for Tibet has also condemned the article and said that there is no evidence to suggest that Chancellor Khosla has been involved in any action supporting the independence of Tibet. TATA to Jointly make F-16s with Lockheed Martin under “Make In India” AMandeep
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Aadhaar not mandatory for NRIs June 20, 2017 12:54
Non-Residential-Indians (NRIs) across the world get a sign of relief after the Indian government officials clarified that NRIs were exempted from the mandatory requirement of Aadhaar card to file tax returns in India effective July 1. Since only Indian residents are entitled to get the unique identification number as per the Aadhaar Act, it is not a compulsion for NRIs to apply for Aadhaar card, said officials. "So the July 31 deadline to comply with the rule of obtaining an Aadhaar card for filing Income Tax returns does not apply in the case of non-resident Indians," said Bharatbhai Shah, Convener of NRI Cell, Indian Business and Professional Council, Sharjah, said. Despite the exemption previously announced many NRIs expressed their concerns about disruption of transactions in Non-Resident External bank accounts in India and filing of income tax returns. As Permanent Account Number (PAN) was already made mandatory for holding a bank account, NRIs are concerned about a June 30 deadline to link Aadhaar with PAN. Failure to link Aadhaar with PAN makes PAN redundant and hence some NRIs feared that this could affect their banking transactions. However, Aadhaar will be made compulsory for those NRIs who had resided in India for more than 182 days in aggregate in the past 12 months, Shah said. He further clarified that a resident is an individual who stayed in India for a period of 182 days or more in the 12 months immediately preceding the date of application for enrollment. As per Section 139AA of the Income-tax Act shall not apply to an NRI who had stayed in India less than 182 days in the preceding 12- month period. Abhishek Gautum, under secretary of Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance has clarified that "Foreign citizens and individuals above the age of 80 years at any time during the previous year are also exempt from this requirement." TATA to Jointly make F-16s with Lockheed Martin under “Make In India” AMandeep
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New Portal to help women abandoned by NRI husbands June 15, 2017 13:00
The government of India is planning to set up a single window portal for those Indian women, who are facing abandonment or divorce or other such problems from their Non-Resident Indian (NRI) husbands. Currently, ministries such as Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and women and child development handle different aspects of such cases. A spokesperson for MEA said that the “plan is to coordinate efforts in a centralized manner.” The decision was taken by an inter-ministerial panel at a meeting last week. The new web portal will have advice on how to proceed with a case, including approaching the Indian mission, seeking the help of empanelled lawyers and NGOs. The website will also have instruction and precautions to follow before marrying an NRI. At present, measures include legal and financial aid of $3,000 in developed countries and $2,000 in developing ones to assist women who face abandonment or divorce proceedings within 15 years of marriage. But what has been lacking is a single point for redressal. The Indian government had set up an inter-ministerial committee in July 2016, following mounting complaints to look at measures to help such women. The panel is now revising the standard operating procedures for dealing with all such cases. According to the annual report, in 2014, the National Commission for Women, which is an autonomous section under the WCD ministry and runs an NRI Cells, registered 346 complaints from women married to NRI men. However, these current figures do not reflect the true image as most of the women does not come forward to lodge a complaint. The complaints are mostly regarding husbands keeping custody of their wives’ passports and not allowing them to travel, disappearing after leaving their wives behind in India, abandoning wives in foreign countries, forcibly keeping the child abroad and not letting the wife contact the child, etc. In 2007, the then Overseas Indian Affairs ministry came up with a handbook on NRI marriages. One of the reasons that had triggered this was the rising number of abandoned spouses of NRI women — over 13,000 in Gujarat and more than 25,000 in Punjab. Back in 2009, Girija Vyas, the then NCW chairperson had commented that “out of 10 NRI marriages, two resulted in the wife being abandoned after honeymoon”. NRI quota goes Vacant in private colleges AMandeep
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NRI Quota goes vacant in Private Colleges May 31, 2017 13:02
A person is eligible for an NRI quota in a deemed University, even if your great grandfather’s great grand uncle was an NRI.This rule for NRI seats in deemed universities is flexible enough for the seats to get snapped up fast. But in private colleges the scenario is little different, as most of the seats under the NRI quota go abegging. Private colleges have tighter norms to abide by, as per the state-appointed admissions regulatory body. The candidate’s parent must be an NRI. Out of 200 seats in private medical colleges for Post Graduate degree, 150 are available in the last mop-up. That is the final closure round from seats available after students drop out in the second round. Another 50 seats in the institutional quota remain vacant too. The head of the Directorate of Medical Education and Research, Dr. Pravin Shingare said: "These seats will be available in the mop-up round," Deemed universities are governed by the admission regulatory body appointed by them, as per the rights awarded by the University Grants Commission. "Things have still not settled down. When parents come to our campus, they start negotiating to pay a component of the fees in cash," said a college principal. The colleges felt that the seats may fill up after the latest circular to reduce NEET eligibility. A note from the health ministry said: It has been decided in consultation with the Medical Council of India (MCI) to reduce the percentile cut-offs for NEET-PG 2017 by 7.5, taking them to 42.5 for general candidates, 32.5 for reserved category candidates and 37.5 for PWD category." Many seats were left vacant, with insufficient candidates having met the qualifying cut-off score. "As per clause 9, sub-clause III, of the Medical Council of India's Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER) 2000, when sufficient candidates fail to secure minimum marks, the central government in consultation with MCI, may lower minimum marks, which will be applicable for that academic year only. Representations were received from some state governments that seats in some categories may remain vacant as there are insufficient candidates," added the ministry's note. India to open 40 consulate officers for NRIs AMandeep
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