The Police department will earmark special days and venues to look into complaints of the French population in the city.
During the first-ever interaction hosted by the Raj Nivas with representatives of the French population, a demand arose to create a special police station for the French expatriates.
However, S.K. Gautam, DGP, noting that most complaints from this section came to the Grand Bazaar police station, suggested instead that the department identify a place and fix dates and timing and make available French-speaking police officers for the convenience of the nationals.
Once prepared, the list would be widely circulated among the French population, he said.
Mr. Gautam urged victims of land-grab cases (which were not family disputes) to approach his office. Complainants should approach the Office of the District Registrar and get a copy of the original document related to the property, he said.
When one of the citizens raised the issue of a working visa for volunteer NGO and issues with registration of the FRO and renewal of the working visa, the DGP pointed out that police have reduced the working days for the verification process from 15 days to 7 days.
It was advised to incorporate one of the French citizen volunteer in the group for smoother communication.
Representatives pointed out that while applying for OCI card, a major issue faced is with one of the conditions that one of the ancestor or the person himself should have an Indian paper.
They have only French certificates, birth or death certificates with birth place mentioned as Pondicherry, but do not have Indian papers. The citizens were advised to make a presentation on this issue to the Collector’s office, Ministry of External Affairs and Home Ministry for further action.
Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi suggested that a WhatsApp group be formed with Catherine Suard, French Consul General, as the administrator to continue the dialogue and stay engaged.
Over 60 participants
More than 60 French nationals, delegates who enrolled for the meet, actively took part in the interaction that covered topics such as security, skill development, education, environment hygiene and sanitation.
Helping students
On the difficulties faced by French students who want to pursue higher studies in India but are unfamiliar with the process, it was decided to request Pondicherry University Vice-Chancellor to meet with the French Consul General to provide the necessary support and information session.
With regard to traffic woes, the DGP informed the group that a special traffic action plan was being created with measures such as one-way traffic and parking regulations.
V. Candavelou, Chief Secretary-in-charge, Satheydra Singh Dursawat, District Collector, G. Theva Neethi Dhas, Secretary to Lt. Governor, Rajiv Ranjan, SSP, VJ Chandran, SSP, Apoorva, SSP, attended the meeting.
Ms. Bedi also suggested working collaboratively among the Government, Auroville research institutes, Sri Aurobindo Ashram and the Pondicherry University.
Most frustrating
When asked in a questionnaire-survey at Raj Nivas to tick what frustrated them most about life in Puducherry, most French nationals identified poor traffic regulation/ traffic, parking and rash driving.
Responding to a questionnaire survey, most respondents, however, overwhelming said they were happy to be here.
While a few of them called it a home away from home, many rated the city positively, ranging from great to wonderful.
A majority of the French nationals were in Puducherry for a period between one to 20 years, the survey found.
