Wansuk demands visa facilitation centre in NE

NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha member Wansuk Syiem demanded that at least one visa facilitation centre should be set up in the North East for facilitating visa applications for which people from the region face many difficulties.
In a special mention in the Upper House, Syiem praised the government for starting many Passport Seva Kendras in the North East, including in Meghalaya. But in the absence of any visa facilitation centre, people are wasting time and money and at times falling into the hands of touts, she said.
The government has introduced Visa Facilitation Services (VFS) in the provision of services by the Department of Home Affairs. It represents an outsourcing strategy in the granting of visas and processing of visa applications.
The proposed visa facilitation centres need to be manned by competent professionals and charge nominal fees, she said.
People from the North East are running from pillar to post visiting high commissions, embassies and consulates to get a visa application cleared, she pointed out.