While the issue of exploitation of Indians working abroad is a serious one – particularly Indians working in the Gulf countries – the change in the colour of a passport seemed to be a strange solution to the problem. People who travel aboard for jobs that require little education or skill, are required to undergo certain emigration checks. It was proposed that the passports of these people be changed to orange. People who have passed Class X or Indians who pay income tax are not required to undergo checks and their passports would continue to be blue.
The proposed move may have been well-intentioned, but critics felt that they would worsen social divisions and deepen differences between the way the rich and poor are treated in India. Even now; the way that different classes or people are treated by officials is vastly different; the situation would only worsen if the proposed colour change was put into place.
When an Indian with an orange passport landed in a foreign country they would start off at a significant disadvantage and this could possibly harm their future prospects as well, felt critics.
Leaders of the opposition, as well as other influential voices, have spoken out strongly against the proposed changes. Many representations were also made to Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj that the changes; far from protecting poor travellers, would actually exacerbate discrimination against the poor. In the event, it was decided that all regular Indian passports will remain blue. The proposed change to orange coloured passports for those requiring emigration clearances is now dropped. The last page of the passport, which was proposed to be removed, will also be retained.
The U-turn by the government on this issue is of a piece with the many U-turns this government has made about various policies. While in the opposition, the party was among the most vociferous opponents of Aadhaar cards and of Foreign Direct Investments, now having assumed power at the centre, the party has done a 180-degree volte-face on both these issues. After implementing demonetisation and GST, numerous policy changes and tweaks followed. The question begs to be asked – shouldn’t the government do its homework better before making policies and announcements; thereby obviating the need to correct itself later?
One does also wonder if it was the protest from within the political class that resulted in this latest U-turn. After all, there are those sitting in Indian parliament and legislative assemblies who would have found their regular passports turning orange!
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