Talking to The Financial Express, Global Organisation of People of IndianOrigin (Gopio) secretary general Dhundev Bauhadoor said that the Indiangovernment has imposed a fee of $1000 for issuing a card which wasinappropriate.

According to Mr Bauhadoor, there was no rationale for such a high fee. Headded, "if I have 10 members in my family, I will have to shell out $10,000to get the cards." He added, "We are requesting the government to eitherwaive the fee or reduce it substantially."

Referring to the restriction of four generations for getting the PIO card,he said, "It is not logical. Like parents, one can't change his place oforigin." He suggested to the government to remove this clause for issuingPIO cards.

The PIOs, he said, also want the Indian government to set up an educationalinstitution for their children. He added that PIOs face problems in severalcountries that prefer local students. "Our children, despite good marks,fail to secure admission in good institutes because of discrimination," MrBauhadoor said. Also, he added, it was not always possible for PIOs livingin poorer countries to send their children to European and Americaninstitutes.

The Indian government, he said, could play a meaningful role in setting upan institute for the children of PIOs. He added, "We want the government tospend the initial capital in setting up the institutes. Thereafter, we willtake the responsibility of running the institute. It will beself-financing."

He further said that the institute would create a camaraderie among thechildren of PIOs who would be converging from 50-60 different nations. Theinstitute will also give an opportunity to the new generation to learn aboutIndian culture and tradition.

Mr Bauhadoor also suggested to the Indian government to set up culturecentres in countries having high concentration of PIOs. He regretted that acultural centre in Fiji was recently closed. He added that there was nocultural centre in Malaysia. He stressed, "Such centres help in cementingthe bondage which we have with India."

Card charges may be cut
External affairs minister Jaswant Singh has assured the Global Organisationof Persons of Indian Origin (Gopio) that the charges for issuance of PIOcards would be reviewed from the current high of $1,000 apiece. He saidefforts were being made to reduce it and to make it applicable to a familyof five at least. He also mentioned that the matter of setting up auniversity in India for PIOs was being considered. A high-powered committeeset up to make recommendations on various aspects relating to PIOs andnon-resident Indians would be submitting its report soon, he added.