India approves OCI card for seventh gen Indian-origin Mauritians
In a goodwill gesture, India has approved a special provision to make 7thgeneration Indianorigin Mauritians eligible for the Overseas Citizen of India Card to reconnect them with the land of their ancestors, President Droupadi Murmu has announced.
In her address at the State Banquet hosted by Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth on Monday, Murmu also announced that the Indian government will support the Government of Mauritius in the redevelopment of the sacred Ganga Talao complex into a religious, cultural and tourist hub.
This decision reflects the deep respect in India for our shared cultural values, Murmu, who is here on a state visit, said.
SHARED VALUES
Ganga Talao is a crater lake situated in a secluded mountain area in the district of Savanne, deep in the heart of Mauritius. It is about 550 m (1,800 ft) above sea level. It is considered the most sacred Hindu place in Mauritius.
“I am confident that our cooperation in this project shall further deepen the strong peopletopeople connect between our two countries,” she said.
“I have great pleasure in informing you all that my government has just approved a special provision under which Indianorigin Mauritians of the 7th generation will also be eligible for the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card. This will enable many younger Mauritians of Indian origin to become overseas citizens of
India, and to reconnect with the land of their ancestors,” she said.
BILATERAL TRADE
“In the last few weeks, our two Prime Ministers launched UPI and RuPay Card settlement systems in India and Mauritius; they also inaugurated a new Airstrip and a Jetty along with six community projects in Agalega. A new initiative to supply affordable, highquality, Indian generic medicines to Mauritius was also announced. In the days ahead, we are looking at many new initiatives such as launching a jointly developed satellite for Mauritius and supplying 200 environmentfriendly electric buses. In addition, the Rupee Vostro Account Facility will enable bilateral trade in our local currencies,” she said.
NATIONAL DAY
She said the impressive pace of progress in bilateral ties has been made possible due to the two governments according primacy to one another and ‘investing’ in the relationship.
Murmu said she was truly delighted to participate as the Chief Guest of the 56th National Day celebrations of Mauritius being celebrated on Tuesday.
“Mauritius is one of the first few countries that I am visiting on a State Visit since assuming office as President. I had heard wonderful things about this beautiful country in the heart of the Indian Ocean; but having been here only for a few hours, I can see for myself why your country is called the “Paradise Island”. Today, Mauritius is truly a shining beacon of development, democracy, diversity and dynamism,” she said.
Murmu said she was profoundly inspired by the extraordinary triumph of the human spirit that Mauritius represents.
In a short span of 56 years as an independent nation, Mauritius has emerged as a leading democracy, a beacon of pluralism, a prosperous economy, an International Financial Centre of repute, a thriving tourist destination, and most importantly, one of the safest and most peaceful countries in the world, the President said.