Union home minister Rajnath Singh (Photo: DC archives)
New Delhi:
Union ministry of home affairs is set to consider issuing visas to project India as the chosen destination for medical tourism, education and other such draws. Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Friday told the ministry’s foreigners division to chart out a clear policy to promote a visa policy that would boost the country’s image internationally and promote development.
Meanwhile, after the negative publicity the government received following the NGO controversy, the home minister asked the ministry to conduct “outreach programmes” to acquaint all NGOs with the various provisions of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
Mr Singh is learnt to have stressed that NGOs receiving foreign funding in the country need to be sensitised about the rules and this can be done best by interacting with them through outreach programmes in different parts of India on a regular basis.
The move comes against the backdrop of an Intelligence Bureau report that alleged misuse of foreign grants by NGOs to obstruct various ongoing developmental projects in the country.
“While there will be no compromise on security, a piecemeal approach will be done away with and issuing of visas will have a special focus on bringing development,” an official said.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com /Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs ‘/ DC / Namrata Biji Ahuja / July 05th, 2014
