The East Indian Community

OBC Cert. Issued

First East Indian to receive the OBC Certificate : Mr. Anselm Pereira.

In reply to his RTI, Adv. Godfrey Pimenta was informed that: of the 7 OBC Applications received by the Colector's office, 5 applicants have ben given the OBC certificate, and the other 2 application are in process.

Adv. Godfrey Pimenta and Adv. Vivian D'souza have compiled a booklet with regards procedures and benefits of the OBC. This booklet is available at the Bombay East Indian Association, Bandra.

Church certificate

The following letter has been transcribed

Archbishop’s House
21, N. Parekh Marg
Bombay 400 001

May 19, 2006

It has been brought to my notice that some persons have been approaching the Zonal Bishops, the Parish Priests and the Staff at Archibishop’s House with a request that in the Baptisim Certificate of the person concerned an entry should be made in the remarks column that the person concerned is an East Indian. Others want a similar entry to be made in the Baptismal Register. Please note that this request cannot be granted. In the Baptism Register only the nationality of the person concerned is entered besides the details of Baptism.

In such cases the person concerned should be advised to approach the Municipal Authorities to make the required entry in their registers and Certificates issued by them. If for any reason or other this is not possible., please do the following:

If a person approaches you to certify that he/she is an East Indian, if you are sure that the person concerned is in fact an East Indian a certificate should be given on the letter-head of the Chruch stating that the person concerned is an East Indian to the best of your knowledge.

In case of doubt, the person concerned should be asked to sign an affidavit tat he/she is an East Indian. When issuing a certificate subsequently on the Church letter head, the following should be stated : “ As per affidavit signed by….dated….., the person concerned is an East Indian.”

Please note that the affidavit should be kept in the Parish File for future reference, if any.

With best wishes,

Yours Fraternally in Corde Mariae
Ivan Cardinal Dias
Archbishop of Bombay