Aadhaar facility on cards for ‘pravasis’

New Delhi : The government is considering giving Aadhaar cards to Non-Resident Indians and a decision on it will be taken soon, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said today while inviting the diaspora community to actively participate in India’s growth story.
In her address to the first limited edition of Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, Swaraj said it had been decided that women workers would be allowed to go to Gulf countries for employment only through government agencies to ensure they are not duped by recruiting agents or firms.
The PBD, webcast by almost all Indian Missions and Posts, was organised for the first time by External Affairs Ministry (MEA) after the government’s decision to merge Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) with it. Earlier MOIA used to host the event. “So far Aadhaar card has been given to those Indians who live in India. It is not for Non-Resident Indians. But you will be happy to know that the Prime Minister wants the card to be given to the NRIs the way it is issued to people living in India. “He even wants it for OCI (Overseas Citizens of India card) holders,” said Swaraj.