Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 2 : Following the intense outcry from the NRIs residing in the Gulf against the strict implementation of 1967 Customs Act, which allows a male passenger to carry only Rs 10,000 worth of gold, and female passenger only Rs 20,000 worth of gold, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has assured a delegation of members of parliament that very soon, the customs rules will be amended. The new rule will be based on the quantity of gold imported and not on its value.

Daijiworld has carried an extensive campaign against the old rule, and on the problems faced by Gulf-bound passengers at Mangalore airport customs.

A representative from Daijiworld, armed with a memorandum and the feedback from the readers of daijiworld, met Vayalar Ravi, overseas affair minister, in New Delhi last week and submitted the documents to him.

The minister in his response to daijiworld clarified that similar appeal has been made by several Kerala-based organizations in the Gulf, and a delegation of members of parliament from Kerala had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently.

The Prime Minister has assured that an amendment in the current customs law will be done.

The minister expressed his surprise over the attitude of Mangalore customs commissioner, and said that a responsible government officer must respond to the queries of the common people. "We will take serious action, if such things continue," he assured. It may be recalled that, D Purushotham, customs commissioner of Mangalore had refused to give customs guidelines to the media and failed to answer genuine questions last month. Instead, he provided a 100-page rule book, and asked passenge to educate themselves before they travel.

Daijiworld requests all noted NRE organisations abroad to send their memorandum to the central government MPs and ministers and put more pressure on the Prime Minister so that the 45-year-old Customs Act is amended very soon.

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