Under fire from various quarters, Centre has revoked its decision to issue orange coloured passport to people requiring emigration check. Additionally, the government has also announced that it would retain the last page of the passport which contains address proof and other personal details of the concerned person.
“After comprehensive discussions with the various stakeholders, the MEA has decided to continue with the current practice of printing of the last page of the passport and not to issue a separate passport with orange colour jacket to ECR (emigration check required ) passport holders,” the ministry said in the release.
Notedly, government officers have a white passport, diplomats are issued red passports and all other passports are blue. As the practise continues, a blue passport is considered ECNR by default, unless it has a ECR stamp.
The new set of passports were to be introduced for citizens who have Emigration Check Required (ECR) status instead of the traditional dark blue colour.
Indian Express
The government had announced these changes earlier this month, but Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj reviewed the decision after a spate of protests and representations.
The criticism
Applicants not having education beyond tenth standard, and having less than taxable income are supposed to be given a passport with ECR category.
This meant if they want to travel abroad for work to a group of 18 countries, most of them in Gulf, they would only be allowed to leave India after obtaining an ‘Emigration clearance’ certificate from the office of Protector of Emigrants.
Had the MEA gone ahead with its proposal, the separate colour code would have made the underprivileged status of the concerned person apparent, many warned.
Critics argued that the move would create practical hardships for migrant workers. The chances of harassment and exploitation would have increased if their vulnerable status was made apparent on the passport through a separate colour code, they said.
The move would have affected the migrants workers in Gulf
The decision would have affected a large class of Indians who have migrated to other countries (including Gulf) in search of job and livelihood.
There are an estimated six million (60 lakh) Indian migrants in the six Gulf states of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Oman.
Indian Express
A World Bank estimate said that India holds the top spot in attracting overseas remittances. In 2015, the country received $69 billion in remittances with a majority of them coming from Gulf countries.
Many migrant Indian workers are promised high paying jobs but they end up doing menial jobs with few benefits or protections. The orange passports would have put them at greater risk of getting duped.
Backlash
The Centre’s move drew flak from opposition with Congress President Rahul Gandhi accusing the government of treating ‘migrant workers like second class citizens.’
Treating India’s migrant workers like second class citizens is completely unacceptable. This action demonstrates BJP’s discriminatory mindset.https://t.co/6iiOy2rPKC
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) January 14, 2018
Soon, Kerala chief minister asked the Centre to “rectify” its decision to allot two different colours for passports.
“The decision will discriminate between ordinary workers and educated ones,” Vijayan had said.
PIL challenging Centre’s move
Indian Express
However, the biggest wake-up call came after the Kerala High Court issued a notice to the central government on PIL challenging its decision.
In his plea, lawyer Shamsuddeen Karunagappally had argued that such a move would lead to segregation of people with low education and low economic status.
The petitioner contended that the move would make their underprivileged status publicly known through separate colour code.
The petitioner was also aggrieved by the government’s decision to omit the last page of the passport containing details including the holder’s address.
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