Travel Freedom: Are Indians Allowed To Roam?

Indian citizens are facing difficulties in travelling abroad due to global travel restrictions. Many countries have imposed strict rules on travellers from India, citing the deadly second wave and the spread of the Delta variant. These restrictions have caused inconvenience and hardship for Indians, affecting their ability to travel for work, family reunions, or education. Despite improvements in India's COVID-19 situation, the travel bans remain in place, leading to accusations of unscientific and potentially racist regulations. Additionally, there are instances of racial discrimination within India, where certain hotels, restaurants, and beaches restrict entry to Indian citizens, catering exclusively to foreign tourists.

Indians require a permit to visit Lakshadweep

Lakshadweep is a tropical paradise with a string of 36 coral islands in the Laccadive Sea off the coast of Kerala, India. The islands are home to several intriguing beaches with abundant marine life, making them a perfect holiday destination. However, one of the most important things to know before visiting Lakshadweep is the guidelines related to the entry permit.

According to the Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands' rules, all individuals besides the residents of Lakshadweep will need to obtain a permit in the prescribed form from the authorities. This rule is in place to protect the Scheduled Tribes residing in Lakshadweep, who make up about 95% of the total population.

The process for obtaining a permit is the same for both Indian citizens and foreign tourists. First, an online application must be filled out and submitted, along with identification documents and passport-size photos. Then, the applicant must take the clearance certificate and a filled entry permit form to the Lakshadweep Administrative Office at Wellingdon Island in Kochi. The approval process can take up to 15 days. Once approved, the applicant will receive their permit via email or post and must carry it with them when travelling to Lakshadweep.

It is important to note that there are restrictions on which islands can be visited. Indians are permitted to visit five islands: Kavaratti, Agatti, Bangaram, Kadmat, and Minicoy. Foreigners are limited to three islands: Agatti, Bangaram, and Kadmat. To visit any other island, special permission from the central government is mandatory.

Indians are not allowed in the Russian Colony, Kudankulam

Indians are not allowed in the Russian Colony in Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu. The Russian Colony was established by Russians in the 1800s as a strategic outpost to monitor British activity in the region. Russians were forced to abandon the colony in the 1940s, and it has been abandoned ever since. Today, the Russian Colony is a popular tourist destination for those seeking off-the-beaten-path adventures. However, Indian citizens are prohibited from entering the colony without special permission from the Russian embassy.

The Russian Colony is located within the residential complex of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP), which is the largest nuclear power station in India. The KNPP is a collaboration between Russia and India, with Russia providing technical expertise and financial support. The power plant has faced opposition from local communities and delays in construction due to safety concerns. However, the Indian government has emphasised the economic importance of the project and its potential to address power shortages in the region.

The Russian Colony in Kudankulam is a self-sustaining community with houses, hotels, and clubhouses. It accommodates Russian citizens working on the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project. The colony's infrastructure includes a small port established in 2004 to facilitate the transportation of oversized light water reactor equipment, which was previously transported via road from the port of Thoothukudi.

The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project has been a subject of controversy and debate in India. Protests against the power plant have occurred due to safety concerns and the potential risk of a nuclear disaster. There have also been allegations of foreign funding and church involvement in the protests, which have been denied by the protestors. The Indian government and nuclear scientists have defended the project, stating that the plant is one of the safest in the world and that necessary safety measures have been implemented.

In conclusion, the Russian Colony in Kudankulam, India, is a legacy of historical Russian influence in the region. While it no longer serves its original strategic purpose, it remains a restricted area for Russian citizens involved in the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project. The power plant has been a source of debate, with concerns over safety and the potential environmental impact weighed against the economic benefits it brings to the region.

Foreigners-only beaches exist in Goa and Pondicherry

In Goa, Anjuna Beach is one such beach where locals' behaviour towards Indians keeps them away. In Pondicherry, rope or barricade demarcations are created by shack and restaurant owners to stop Indians from entering. An Indian traveller wrote about how, after severe reproach, they were allowed to enter through the back door.

This discrimination is not limited to beaches. Indians have faced similar issues in hotels and cafes across the country, including the Free Kasol Cafe in Himachal's Kasol village, the Uno-In Hotel in Bangalore, the Red Lollipop Hostel in Chennai, and the Norbulinka Cafe in Dharamshala.

Indians are not allowed in some hotels and restaurants

Some hotels and restaurants in India seem to prefer foreign tourists and have an unstated but definite 'No Indians' policy. This is often driven by financial reasons, as foreigners can and do pay more, and the perception that Indian tourists complain more, demand more room service, tip less, and are generally messier and louder. Some establishments claim that they are trying to protect foreign guests from unwanted attention.

There are several well-known examples of this type of discrimination. Highlands Lodge in Chennai, for instance, has a 'No Indian' policy, only allowing Indians with foreign passports to stay. Similarly, the Broadlands Hotel in Chennai also operates a 'No Indian Policy', and the Red Lollipop Hostel in the same city only admits foreigners or those with passports. In Bangalore, the Uno-In Hotel, which was built to cater to an increasing number of Japanese clients, has been in the news for discriminating against Indians and has now been shut down on charges of racial discrimination.

This type of discrimination is not limited to accommodation; some restaurants and cafes also refuse to serve Indian customers. For example, the Free Kasol Cafe in Kasol village in Himachal's Kullu district turned away an Indian lady and her British friend due to the woman's ethnicity. Similarly, the Norbulinka Cafe in Dharamshala does not allow Indians or people who resemble Indians to enter.

In beach destinations such as Goa and Pondicherry, locals keep Indians off some beaches, claiming that they want to protect foreign guests from unwanted attention. There are rope or barricade demarcations created by shack and restaurant owners to stop Indians from entering.

While there may be no explicit signboards saying "Indians are not allowed", these restrictions on the entry of Indians are a stark reminder of the pre-independence era of India and the country's complex relationship with skin colour and fairness.

Indians face global travel bans

Indians have been facing travel restrictions and bans from many countries around the world, including the US, Canada, Europe, and most countries in Asia. These bans were initially put in place due to the deadly second wave of COVID-19 in India and the spread of the Delta variant. However, despite improvements in the situation, with daily new cases dropping by over 90% and an increase in vaccination rates, the travel bans have remained largely unchanged. This has caused hardship for millions of Indians, affecting their ability to travel for work, family reunions, or education.

The restrictions have been perceived as illogical and potentially racist, as Indians are banned from entering certain countries even if they have tested negative, are fully vaccinated, or are willing to quarantine. In comparison, travellers from other nations with similar or higher caseloads are allowed entry. For example, the UK, which has a lower population than India, has been recording a higher number of daily new cases per capita but has still banned Indian travellers.

The situation is further exacerbated by vaccine passport programmes, such as the one launched by the EU, which initially excluded Covishield, the Indian version of the AstraZeneca vaccine. This exclusion was later partially resolved, with a few EU countries admitting Covishield. However, the European Medicines Agency has yet to change its directive, reflecting a reluctance to lift restrictions on Indian travellers.

Within India itself, there are certain places that are off-limits to Indian citizens, particularly those associated with minority cultures. For example, the Russian Colony in Kudankulam, established in the 1800s as a strategic outpost, does not permit Indian nationals without authorization from the Russian consulate. Additionally, there are "foreigner-only" beaches in Goa and Pondicherry, where locals are not allowed, allegedly due to concerns about sexual harassment of women in swimwear by Indian men.

The travel bans and restrictions faced by Indians, both globally and within their own country, highlight a complex interplay of health concerns, cultural biases, and economic interests. While countries may have initially imposed bans due to COVID-19, the persistence of these restrictions despite improvements in India's situation suggests underlying prejudices and the ease of discriminating against developing countries.

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