TRIVANDRUM, 6 August 2005 — Non-resident Indians in Gulf countries will be allowed to vote in elections while they are in India, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Jagdish Tytler has said.

“We have received a draft bill from the Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy for this and we immediately decided to accept it,” he told the Global NRK Meet being held here yesterday.

“You will vote as soon as the Election Commission clears it and that’s the most important thing I’m taking up,” he said.

Chief Minister Chandy said at least 10 percent of expatriate workers in the Gulf were generally at home during elections, and they would be able to vote. Their names would be enrolled on voter lists along with the passport number and they would be able to vote by just producing their passports. There will be no absentee voting or polling booths abroad.

Tytler said Parliament had passed a bill extending dual citizenship to people of Indian origin (PIOs) in all countries instead of the 16 listed initially. Two children of a person granted dual citizenship would also get the same benefits.

“Any Indian who had taken citizenship in foreign countries after Jan. 26, 1956 can apply for citizenship through the Indian embassies there. He will get the citizenship within 15 days if there were no criminal cases pending against him,” he said.

Tytler said a smartcard with all details of passport, visa, insurance cover and legal heirs recorded on it would be distributed to NRIs soon.

The Overseas Indian Affairs Department will open its offices attached to Indian missions to help Indians. “They can go to the offices and get their grievances redressed. My office will take care of their needs. There will be lawyers posted there,” he said.

“It’s my responsibility. I’m also launching a website for their benefit. I would not be continuing as a minister if I could not address your problems,” he added.

Tytler said he would be accompanying the Kerala chief minister when he meets Prime Minister Manmohan Singh next time to take up the issues.

Chandy said he had sought an appointment with the prime minister after Aug. 15. All issues raised at the meeting will be discussed with Manmohan and solutions found, he said.

He said an NRI cell had been opened at the state police headquarters. It was being headed by a superintendent of police.

NRI businessman M.A. Yousaf Ali, who is also director of the NORKA ROOTS, said the government-sponsored NRI welfare agency had decided to set up an international business school for children of NRIs. “There will be no capitation fee. Poor students can study there at nominal fees,” he said.

At the global NRK meeting that began here yesterday, expatriates working in the Gulf raised their grievances. They demanded flights that were affordable to low-paid workers, strict laws to prevent illegal recruitment and cheating by middlemen, welfare schemes for returnees and an end to the harassment at Kerala airports by the customs officials.

The meeting, chaired by former minister M.M. Hassan, resolved to send a high-level delegation of state ministers and members of Parliament from Kerala to meet with the prime minister.

The meeting, attended by delegates from the Gulf, Europe, the United States and Singapore, was opened by 20 prominent NRIs by lighting the traditional lamp.

The issues being discussed during the two-day conclave include voting rights and employment security, single-window system for bringing dead bodies, security of expatriate families and contract employment in Gulf countries.

Delay in compensation payment to the families of the dead, release of those in jail abroad, sexual abuse of housemaids, insurance, user’s fee at airports, budget airline services to Saudi Arabia and high fares charged by Air-India and Indian Airlines also came up for discussions.