UAE:Government of India earlier proposed the mandatory registration of Indians going abroad for work and education. The earlier move that had faced a setback due to protests from Indian expats the way of introduction was without proper homework.  

The draft Emigration Bill 2019, which aims to ensure the welfare and protection of emigrants, proposes “mandatory registration of all categories of Indian nationals proceeding for overseas employment as well as students pursuing higher studies abroad.

There was  an incident where government of India introduced an orange colour passport for educationally backward Indian citizens and later also introduced mandatory registration of all Indians going abroad. Both proposals had been withdrawn when NRIs agitated against them. 

Finally we proposed to the government of India, before introducing any new system, the government should invite the opinion of Indian Expatriates and diplomatic missions. 

I welcome ministry of external affairs for publishing the bill in its website and inviting opinion and suggestions giving email id to send it.  

1. There must be enough time to register and the procedure must be simple, an illiterate person should also be able to fulfill it. 

2.  Government had declared that the introduction of this system is for the welfare of NRIs. This should not be just on paper,  each NRI must feel that government of India will take care of them. When Indian emmigration officer fix exit stamp the Indian Citizen must get a message in his authorized email id welcoming him to a new country, to contact a particular number in the Indian mission when ever he/she has any problem. 

3. Government should make sure the information given by the Indian expatriate should not be misused. Indians has already had a bad experience with the information of Aadhaar given by them being misused. 

NRIs have been discriminated in obtaining Aadhaar card and Right to Information. Recent judgement of Delhi High Cour permited NRIs also to have Right to Information. 

NRIs are not permitted to obtain Aadhaar, where as NRIs has to submit PAN card to all banks, Aadhaar card is mandatory to obtain PAN card. 

 Shrimathi Sushama Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs had announced on Jan 9, 2016 that Prime Minister want to give Aadhaar to NRIs, now three years elapsed from the announcement NRIs had not permitted to obtain Aadhaar. 

Government is going to introduce Aadhaar amendment bill, we request to make necessary changes to permit NRIs also to obtain Aadhaar. If government can link Aadhaar with emmigration registration it will be easy and convenient process. 

- K.V Shamsudheen, Sharjah, UAE.