Colour-coded passports draw flak in Kerala 

Colour-coded passports draw flak in Kerala 

Context

The Central government’s decision to issue orange colour passports to persons requiring emigration check has evoked an angry reaction from leaders and organisations cutting across political lines in Kerala.

Says Central govt decision is discriminatory and violative of human rights

In a Facebook post, the Chief Minister said the passport reform would divide Indian citizens into two classes in gross violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Articles 14 to 17 of the Constitution

Creating a class

• The decision to issue orange passports to those require emigration check and blue passports to those who do not require such check would make those who had not cleared Class 10 second class citizens
• The Central government’s decision would prove particularly hurtful when those carrying the orange passports visit other countries.
• This might result in their being treated as second class citizens and some even losing out in the process.

Many businessmen too

While a large number of labourers might be those who had not cleared Class 11, there could also be many from the business community who had not had formal education beyond that level.