India Post News Service

NEW DELHI: The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas witnessed sessions on how India and its diaspora can form closer engagements for mutual benefit. The working sessions on the regions brought forth particular problems of Indians in each area and offered solutions to resolve them.

The Plenary session on Diaspora Philanthropy drew many suggestions on improving facilities for contributions to social development. Vayalar Ravi, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, at the working session on the Gulf announced that the welfare scheme for Gulf workers was awaiting Cabinet approval.

He also spoke on the complexity of fixing minimum wages for the workforce in Gulf countries. E. Ahamed, Minister of State for External Affairs, announced that a number of agreements and MoUs were underway with Gulf countries. He also shared the roadblocks that the Indian Government faces in implementing some of the plans in view of the varied domestic rules and regulations of the Gulf countries.

Mohammad Shabbir Ali cautioned the Government against non-conformity with labour agreements. Elamaram Kareem suggested the constitution of a Core Group and setting up of regional level single window clearance systems for NRI investments and projects. Y.A. Rahim, President, Indian Association Sharjah questioned the denial of the Open Sky Policy to passengers in the Gulf sector. M.A. Yousaffali, OIFC Trustee and Managing Director, Emke Group, UAE urged the Government of India to undertake further concrete steps to channelise diaspora investments for productive utilization. Pankaj Khimji, Director, Khimji Ramdas Group, Oman highlighted the need for establishing forums in local Gulf areas to provide a mechanism for dispute resolution.

Recommending a high-level delegation visit to Saudi Arabia to witness labor difficulties, Shihab Kottukad, General Secretary, Pravasi Rehabilitation Centre, Saudi Arabia raised some of the issues like ill-treatment of labor and lack of proper medical facilities. Speaking at the working session on Asia-Pacific , Mani Shankar Aiyar, Minister of Panchayati Raj, Youth Affairs & Sports, and Development of North Eastern Region said that the Government is encouraging state governments to establish their own relationships with the outer world and this is where the Indian Diaspora can participate. Also speaking on the occasion were Vijaya Vaidyanathan, CEO - designate, Waitakere City Council, Auckland, New Zealand and Neville Roach, Chairman, Australia-India Business Council, Australia who envisioned greater cooperation of their respective governments with the Government of India.

Roach suggested that sister-state relationships between states of India and Australia could be formed. Vaidyanathan announced that she would like to invite Government officials to New Zealand to examine the machinery of local governance for the enrichment and empowerment of their people. At the session on Africa, Anand Sharma, Minister of State for External Affairs, said that India and Africa share technology and strength and India is committed to Africa in the field of human resource development. PIOs in Africa should attract business to India and look for projects for a healthy engagement.

Ram Krishnan Sithanen, Deputy PM of Mauritius, stressed that Africa needs investment in infrastructure from India and joint ventures are the need of the hour. Councillor Logie Naidoo, Deputy Mayor of Durban, South Africa, enumerated the names of TATA, Sahara and Satyam who have made large investments in Africa. Dr. J K Chande, KBE, Chairman, Barclays Bank, Tanzania, said that Africa needs the technical expertise of India and suggested extension of India’s Facilitation Center in Durban. Mahyendrah Utchanah, President, GOPIO, Mauritius, stressed on the unity of PIOs around the world. Prof Dusruth Chetty, Pro Chancellor University of KwaZulu Natal, appealed to the government for cultural exchange for the younger generation. At the working session on Americas, Ashwani Kumar, Minister of State for Industry, acknowledged and paid tribute for the tremendous support in the government by the Indian Diaspora.

He encouraged more investment from the Indian Diaspora in philanthropy, business, and social development like education and health. The former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Basdeo Panday raised the issue of discrimination faced by overseas Indians in US. Lalit Mansingh, the Former Indian Ambassador to USA encouraged the contribution of Indian Diaspora with their wealth, expertise and skills to the Indian economy. Inder Singh, the President of GOPIO Inc, California, USA and Sunil Jagasia, President of Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce asked the government to facilitate contributions in a proper, transparent way and reduce its misuse. Dr Ruby Dhalla, Member of Parliament, Canada raised the issues of securing property rights and gender rights for Indo-Americans.

The working session on Europe had a panel that comprised of eminent speakers like Lord Diljit S Rana, Honorary Indian Consul for Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, T. M. Jacob, Managing Director, Jtils Industries, President World Malyalee Council, German Province, Germany, Dr. Ryan Tewari, President, GOPIO, Netherlands, Neeraj Jain, President, India Business Alliance, Moscow, Russian Federation and Karan Malhotra, Ambassador of the city of Cologne, Germany. The place of Indian companies in the European market, especially since the landmark event of the acquisition of Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus by Tata Steel, was highlighted. The panelists felt that over the next ten years India would be the leading investor in UK.

It was announced during this session that two German companies are going to invest large amounts in India’s food processing industry. European counterparts have expressed desire for joint efforts in fields like Science and Technology, Education, Telecom, Energy security etc. One of the key suggestions was the institution of a common currency of ‘Asian Currency Unit’. Almost all panelists appealed to the government that PIOs should be extended the right to vote. Speaking in the session "Diaspora Philanthropy: Empowerment of Rural Women’, Renuka Chowdhury, Minister of State for Women and Child Development, said that Micro-finance is undergoing a "silent revolution" in India. She said government has changed many laws and regulations to empower women in India. But there is still lot to be done and government alone cannot do them.

She expressed her "deepest admiration" for the Diaspora’s interest in this cause. Microfinance can also be a solution for female foeticide, domestic violence, trafficking, female malnutrition and other challenges, she added. T P Sreenivasan, Former Ambassador of India to the United Nations, Vienna, announced that the Prime Minister would look into the "specific proposals" for empowerment of rural women arising out of the discussion in the session.

Leena Srivastava, Executive Director, The Energy and Resources Institute, India suggested a concerted effort in ‘Self Help Groups’. She cautioned there is no "one size fits all" approach, but small efforts in financial inputs, time, technical know-how and content preparation can go a long way. She suggested creation of facilitating agencies to generate funds from private sector to fund NGOs and research bodies involved in the empowerment of the rural women.

Lakshmi V Venkatesan, Founding Trustee and Executive Vice-president, Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust, India said that the process of rural women empowerment requires "kick-start" and "mentoring" women towards developing their entrepreneurial ability with business advice. Dr Balakrishnan Prabhakaran, Department of Computer Science, University of Texas, Dallas, USA suggested an understanding of the needs and requirements of rural women empowerment with specific solutions for different parts of the country. Raj Loomba, Founder Chairman Trustee, The Loomba Trust, UK suggested government engagement with overseas organisations at one-to-one level. Amita Puri, General Manager, Resource Mobilisation, CRY-Child Rights and You, India stressed the need for a credible transparent and trustworthy financial arrangement that can link the Indian Diaspora to the process of women and child empowerment across the country.