EMIGRATION Realities
THERE is no need for a mad rush or desperate need to apply for Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI).
I am aware that many people are desirous of attaining OCI in the hope that it will help them make a hasty exit from South Africa in the event that “things get bad”.
What is delaying matters for most of them is the difficulty in proving to the Government of India that their forebears arrived from India. For descendants of girmitiyas (indentured labourers), information from the ships’ register is required. With applicants for OCI having no idea of the proper names of settlers and the ships or dates of arrival of their forefathers from India,
