THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister of state for external affairs V. K. Singh has promised e-passports by the next year. “In the first phase, we will be rolling out chip-based e-passports that could be incorporated with (the current) passports so that the information could be verified electronically,” he told reporters during a visit to the regional passport office here.
“In the next phase, fully digital passports which could be even carried in mobile phones will be introduced.” He said facilities for e-passports were being installed, and it was expected that all fresh passports to be issued from next year would have the chips incorporated in it. He also said that once the delay in police verification process was sorted out through the electronic passing of information, the time required for issuing passports could be minimised.
The restrictions imposed on the overseas recruitment of nurses and female domestic workers, he said, had helped curb the exploitation in the sector. Mr Singh said the Saudi government was cooperating in getting the claims of the Indian workers from employers. He also advised those still going to the kingdom for employment to be cautious to choose genuine channels.
