This story is from June 2, 2021

Tale of two stranded kids is close to a happy ending

Tale of two stranded kids is close to a happy ending
Nagpur: Two children stranded on either side of the border would finally be able to meet their dear ones.
Now in the Hyderabad town of Pakistan’s Sindh province, less than a year old Reyansh Udasi is set to meet his father in Jalgaon in Maharashtra. On the other side, roads have been cleared for eight-year-Lavina Nagdev who lost her mother two months ago to be with her extended family in the Usta Mohammed town of Balochistan province.
She is at present at Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh. TOI had reported both the cases.
Reyansh was conceived in India but born in Pakistan. His father Kailash Udasi who lives in Jalgaon is an Indian citizen and his wife Sonya is a Pakistani citizen who was living in India after marriage because of her long-term visa (LTV).
The couple had gone to Pakistan for a brief visit in February 2020, but were stranded after borders were closed due to Covid. At that time, Sonya was pregnant. Reyansh was born in Pakistan on August 2020 as the mother remained stranded. Kailash returned when Indian citizens were repatriated, while Sonya, who is still Pakistani, had to wait for her turn.
Born in Pakistan to a mother who had a passport from the same country, Reyansh was technically a Pakistani. After going through intricate procedures, Reyansh had finally got a Paksitani passport and the Indian government too has promptly issued a visit visa.
Kailash is now waiting for the borders to open after which the mother and child can cross over. The borders have been closed for the second time due to Covid.
Lavina’s father Ajeet Kumar Nagdev, had come to India 10 years ago on an LTV. He ran into financial troubles after his wife Rekha Kumari developed a kidney ailment. The lockdown also hampered his garment business. Nagdev decided to return to Paksitan where his family resides and start afresh. Meanwhile, his wife died. As Lavina was born in India, her name was endorsed in the passport of her mother who is no more. This left the eight-year-old stateless, thereby hampering her return.
Following TOI’s story, the Pakistan high commission at Delhi issued a separate passport for Lavina enabling here return. Nagdev also waits for the borders to open. He is thankful to both the governments for their prompt help.
A decision on opening the borders will be taken by the National Command Operation Centre (NCOC) from Pakistan’s side. NCOC has been set up for Covid control.
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