First Citizenship Certificate Granted Under CAA in Goa

Joseph Francis A. Pereira, a 78-year-old Pakistani Christian, has become the first person in Goa to receive Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Chief Minister Pramod Sawant presented him with the citizenship certificate, highlighting the challenges Pereira faced in obtaining citizenship despite being married to an Indian national. Pereira, who lived in Pakistan for many years and returned to India in 2013 after working abroad, expressed gratitude for the CAA, which he credits for facilitating his approval within a month of application. The CAA, enacted in December 2019, aims to provide citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The Goa Home Department is now surveying other eligible individuals who may also qualify for citizenship under this act. Sawant noted the significance of this event as many individuals have sought citizenship for decades.