Double tariff for NRIs may be off

India is one of the few countries where a foreigner is required to pay more on various counts. Isn't this discriminatory?

In a bold step to do away with double-tariff regime, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked various ministries to work towards a system that is not "discriminatory" towards foreign visitors and NRIs when they avail certain services in the country.

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The Prime Minister has directed Cabinet Secretary BK Chaturvedi to review with ministries concerned the "discriminatory" charges being levied for services to foreign passport holders including NRIs, PM's Media Advisor Sanjaya Baru said.

Singh has suggested that the ministries concerned should examine the feasibility of ending this "anomaly and treat all consumers of such services on par irrespective of nationality," he said.

India is one of the few countries where a foreigner is required to pay more on various counts.

At present higher charges are levied on foreign passport holders for hotel tariffs, entrance fee to historic monuments and tourist sites and domestic airfare.

They also have to shell out extra money as registration fees for conferences or seminars, charges for booking space for trade and other exhibitions organised by the ITPO and other organisations.

Under the present system, they have to pay more for subscribing to journals or magazines and healthcare.