Tracing the Roots - Programme
Guidelines for ‘Tracing the Roots’ Programme
1. The programme was designed by the Ministry of
Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA); to assist Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) in
tracing their roots.
2. Persons of Indian Origin desirous of tracing
their roots in India would be required to fill up the prescribed application
form and deposit it with the concerned Indian Mission/Post located in the
country of their residence along with a fee of Rs 30,000/- (Rupees thirty
thousand) in equivalent US $, Euro or any other foreign currency acceptable to
the Indian Mission/Post. All useful information/documents that could be of help
in tracing the roots may be submitted along with the application.
3. The
4. The details of roots in India (where traceable)
i.e. name of close surviving relative(s), details of the place of origin of
their forefathers (paternal and maternal side) and a possible family tree will
be made available to the applicant at the earliest.
5. The information collected, including details of
family tree, would then be sent to the concerned Indian Mission/Post at the earliest
for onward transmission to the applicant.
6. In case of any doubt about the genuineness of
the ‘roots’, the decision of the Ministry, taken in consultation with the
applicant and concerned authorities involved in tracing the particular roots,
will be final and binding.
7. An advance of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees ten thousand
only) will be paid to the organisation/ firm which is entrusted with the job of
tracing roots, in each case. In case of successfully tracing the roots, the
balance Rs.20,000/- (Rupees Twenty thousand only) will be released by the
Ministry to the concerned organisation/firm. In case the attempt is not
successful, the Indian Mission/Post will be authorized to refund foreign
currency equivalent to Rs 20,000/- (Rupees Twenty thousand only ) to the
applicant at the official rate of exchange, as determined by the Government of
India, applicable on the date of the refund.
N.
B. The programme provides for gathering information relating to the ancestors
of the applicant and does not have any provision or arrangement for the visit
by the applicant to his/her ancestral place(s). In case the applicant wishes to
visit these places, the Ministry/organisation/firm concerned would facilitate
such visits at the applicant’s cost .
