Lok Sabha Question No. 332 (STARRED), answered on 2019-07-16
Subject: Facilities for Immigrants
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Sanjay Jaiswal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *332

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 16 TH  JULY, 2019/ ASHADHA 25, 1941 (SAKA )

FACILITIES FOR IMMIGRANTS

†*332. DR. SANJAY JAISWAL:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  the  number of religious minorities living in India  who are having the citizenship of Afghanistan and Pakistan;

(b) whether the Government is aware that they are facing difficulties due to the status of their citizenship and absence of long term visa;

(c) whether the Government has taken any steps to provide facilities like long term visa, education, etc. to them; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) to (d):      A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  THE  LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO. *332 FOR 16.07.2019

Data regarding the number of religious minorities living in India who are having the citizenship of Pakistan and Afghanistan is not maintained centrally.  However,  as  per  information  available  with  MHA,  41,331  Pak nationals and 4193 Afghan nationals belonging to religious minorities have been reported to be living in India on Long term basis as on December 31, 2018.

Keeping in view the difficulties being faced by members belonging to six  identified  religious  minorities  from  Pakistan  and  Afghanistan  living  in India  in  acquiring  Long  Term  Visa  (LTV),  an  online  LTV  application processing portal was launched in the year 2014.  The online applicationcum-processing platform was further revamped in Sept, 2018 and a new online platform was launched having features such as time-bound disposal of LTV applications.  It further provides facility for extension of LTV at the local level by Foreigners Regional Registration Officers/Foreigners Registration  Officers  (FRROs/FROs)  without  referring  the  matter  to  State Government or Central Government.

The  Central  Government,  vide  notifications  dated  07.09.2015  and 18.07.2016, has exempted minority migrants of Pakistan and Afghanistan from  the  penal  provisions  of  The  Passport (Entry into India) Rules, 1950

## L.S.S.Q.NO. 332 FOR 16.07.2019

and The Foreigners Order, 1948.  These notifications have legalized the  entry  and  stay  in  India  of  such  minority  migrants  who  have  entered India due to persecution or fear of persecution on grounds of religion upto December 2014 without any travel documents or where the validity of their documents has expired.

The  Central  Government  has  also  facilitated  grant  of  LTV  to  these migrants  mentioned  in  the  aforesaid  notifications  of  2015  &  2016  by issuing Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in the year 2016.

Pak and Afghan nationals belonging to six identified minority communities and holding LTVs can avail facilities like access to school, college  &  other  educational  institutions,  taking  up  self-employment  or carrying  out  their  own  business,  free  movement  within  the  State/UT, facility for transfer of LTV from one State to another State, opening of bank account, purchasing small dwelling unit for self-occupation or selfemployment,  issuance  of  driving  license,  PAN  card  and  Aadhar  card, access to health facilities, reduction in penalty for overstay to a meager amount of  Rs.100/- to Rs.500/- depending upon the period of overstay etc.

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