Financial help to returning overseas workers

India’s President Pratibha Patil with Y P Reddy (Standing left) and other recipients of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards 2010 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on January 9.

Law to tackle fake marriages also on the anvil

The Indian Government is considering financial assistance to distressed overseas workers, issue of debentures and bonds and electoral franchise for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced last week.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the Eighth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas at the Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on January 8, he said his Government would shortly establish a ‘Resettlement Fund’ for workers returning from the Arab Gulf to provide them with a ‘social security and safety net.’

The scheme will also cover students going overseas for higher education.

“The security of our overseas workers and students is a top priority of my government. Many of them (workers) have been badly affected by the economic crisis. We are conscious of the need to structure an appropriate ‘Return and Resettlement Fund.’ This will be launched shortly,” he said.

Dr Singh said that he recognised the legitimate desire of Indians living abroad to exercise their franchise and to have a say in who governs India.

“We are working on this issue and I sincerely hope that they will get a chance to vote by the time of the next regular general elections,” he said.

However, the right to vote will be available only to NRIs; those with Overseas Indian Citizenship and Person of Indian Origin card will not be included.

Dr Singh said issue of ‘India Infrastructure Bonds’ will enable the Indian Diaspora to engage more closely in skills development and business to business partnerships.

Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said the international conference this year made a paradigm shift in the level, range and pace of mutual engagement.

“It is our conviction that we must now expand our engagement and reach out to a vast majority of the average middle class overseas Indians. We must also make our mutual engagement strategy over the medium to long term,” he said.

President Pratibha Patil said India was keen to promote the public-private partnerships in investment.

“Our infrastructure financing needs are estimated to be over $US 500 billion in the next five years. This presents an unprecedented opportunity, including for our overseas community to participate and benefit in India’s unfolding growth story,” she said, speaking at the valedictory function on January 9.

Samman Awards 2010

Later, she presented the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards to 14 persons of Indian origin living across the continents for their services in various fields.

Yanktesh Piramal Reddy, a popular Fiji Indian, with business interests in Fiji, New Zealand and other parts of the region was the only recipient of the Award from the South Pacific this year. The Indian Government recognised him for his “successful promotion of tourism into India and relentless efforts to protect the interests of the Indian community in Fiji.”

Among the other awardees were Ashok Kumar Mago (US), Dr Azad Moopen (UAE), Deepak Mittal (Thailand), Lenny Krishendath Saith (Trinidad & Tobago), Mani Lal Bhaumik (US), Mohinder Singh Bhullar (Brunei), Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan (South Africa), Rajni Kanabar (Tanzania), Dr Ruby Umesh Pawankar (Japan), Ryuko Hira (Japan), Suresh Kumar Virmani (Oman), Tholisah Perumal Naidoo (South Africa) and Upendra Chivukula (US).

More than 1500 persons representing the Indian Diaspora in 53 countries attended the three-day conference held from January 7 in the Indian capital.

Read our Editorial ‘Overseas workers need protection’ on Page 12.