New Delhi : In a major move to end discrimination against foreigners and Non-Resident Indians (NRI's), Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked Cabinet secretary B K Chaturvedi to review the discriminatory double-tariff system levied on them.

At present, higher charges are levied on foreign passport holders in hotel tariffs, entrance fee to historic monuments and tourists sites, domestic airfare, registration fees for international or other conferences or seinars, charges for booking space for trade and other exhibitions organised by the Indian Trade Promotion Organisation and other organisations, subscription rates for journals or magazines excluding additional postage charges. Even in the healthcare sector, foreigners have to pay a higher bill when compared to Indians for the same treatment.

Reacting to complaints from not only the Indian missions abroad but also the expatriates, regarding the double tariff system, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has asked concerned ministries to examine the feasibility of ending this anomaly and treat all consumers of such services at par, irrespective of their nationality.

The PM has also suggested ministries to work towards a system that is not discriminatory while providing services in the country to foreign passport holders and NRI's. This has also been a long standing demand of the Indian tour operators associations who feel that such discrimination hits tourism.

However, the Archeological Survey of India (ASI), which is under the ministry of culture, has been strongly proposing an end to double tariffs saying that a major chunk of their revenue comes from foreigners. ASI, in return uses the money for the maintenance of the monuments.

Monuments like the Taj Mahal attract about 3 million visitors annually out of which one lakh are foreigners. While Indians pay a mere fee of Rs. 20 as entry fee to the monument, foreigners have to shell out Rs. 520. A special entry fee of Rs. 970 is charged from foreigners during the sun rise and sunset while it Rs. 110 for the Indians.

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