For the first time in Baleswar, a passport camp was organised on Saturday. The two-day camp was held under the Regional Passport Centre, Bhubaneswar, for the applicants of Baleswar, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj districts.
local MP RK Jena had strongly pleaded for a camp service in the district in the Parliament as well as before the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) last year. He had also apprised Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on the matter, subsequently. The approval for the camp service was communicated to him on October 30 last.
In the inaugural session Regional Passport Officer Digvijay Singh, MlA Sadar JP Dash, district Collector Pramod Das , SP Niti Sekhar, Municipality Chairman Alok Sahu and BRIT Chairman Gouri Kumar Rout were present, among others.
MP Jena said, “There has been a sharp increase in the demand of passport in Baleswar and adjoining districts. While earlier a few selective people were seeking passports for only specific reasons, now a days, this has become a most sought-after document as people have to go abroad for a various reasons, besides vacation trips.”
Even in some service sectors, the document is required. About 6 crore Indians now have passport while one crore obtained only last year. A survey indicated that there is an increase of 21 per cent of people who are willing to undertake foreign trips, added Jena.
“After a long persuasion, the camp service could obtain approval. The applicants of north Odisha region including Baleswar, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj who were otherwise required to go to Bhubaneswar regional centre for physical verification of documents and photography and biometric recording have availed the facilities in the doorstep. The MEA and the regional passport service centre have extended full cooperation,” said the district Collector.
“The applicants shouldn’t supplement wrong information like home address permanent and present, death of birth etc. Once everything is correct and police verification received, the passport is issued within a month. Due to the persuasion of MP Jena the camp could be held in Baleswar, said Regional Passport Officer Digvijay Giri, adding Bhubaneswar centre has become B category centre after issuing one lakh passport in a year.