Monday, October 27, 2008

Tracing the Roots

Persons of Indian origin from across the world can now trace their roots with active assistance and support from the Indian government. The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs is all set to launch a programme called "Tracing the Roots" any time soon. The Ministry has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with 'Indiaroots', a specialist company for this purpose.

Persons of Indians origin desirous of tracing their roots in India would be required to fill up the prescribed application form and deposit it with the Indian Mission/Post located in the country of his/her residence along with a fee of Rs 20,000/- in equivalent US dollar, Euro or any other acceptable foreign currency. Any other useful information/document that could be helpful in tracing the roots may also be submitted with the application. The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs would forward the application with all supporting documents to "Indiaroots" along with an advance amount of Rs 6,000/-.

Indiaroots will provide MOIA with details of the roots in India (where traceable) i.e. name of close surviving relatives, details of the place of origin of their forefathers (paternal and maternal side) and a possible family tree within a period of three months from the date of receipt of the application. The information including family tree would then be sent to the concerned Indian Mission/Post at the earliest for onward transmission to the applicant.

In case of any doubt about the genuineness of the 'roots traced', the decision of the MOIA, taken in consultation with the applicant and 'Indiaroots' will be final and binding on 'Indiaroots'.

The programme provides for gathering of information about the ancestors of the applicant and does not have any provision or arrangement for the visit of the applicant to his/her ancestral place(s). In case the applicant wishes to visit these places, the Ministry/Indiaroots would facilitate such visits but the applicant would have to bear all related expenditure.

In case of successful tracing of the roots, the balance of Rs 14,000/- will be released by the Ministry to "Indiaroots". In case the attempt is not successful, a further amount of only Rs 4,000/- will be released to "Indiaroots' and the Indian Mission/Post would be authorized to refund foreign currency equivalent to Rs 10,000/- to the applicant.

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