IndiaPost.com - Community Development Office in US to reach out to NRIs

WASHINGTON: To provide a direct interface between the Indian government and NRIs in the US, a Community Development Officer (CDO) has been appointed here by Ministry for Overseas Indian Affairs.

Arathi Krishna, who has already worked in the Embassy of India for seven years on community affairs has been appointed the CDO, Union Minister Vayalar Ravi told PTI here. While the newly created Office of the Community Development will help in implementing the schemes of the Ministry, he said it will be functioning "a little different from routine bureaucratic work".

Ravi said overseas Indians can approach the office any time and the focus will be a multi-faceted one but with a special emphasis on the social aspect. "It is like an arm of the Government of India that they can touch," the Minister said The CDO, the Minister pointed out, will be involved in the implementation of many schemes that have already been identified by his Ministry.

These include Tracing Roots, Scholarships for Diaspora Children, Know India Program, Scheme for the welfare of deserted women by overseas Indian Diaspora, the benefits of the Overseas Citizenship of India Card, the Health Initiatives in India and the Overseas Investment Facilitation Center that has been established in cooperation with the Confederation of Indian Industry.

Krishna hails from Chikmagalur, Karnataka and her autobiography, 'Quest Across the Sea', was received well in India and the United States. "She will be dealing with issues related to the Non Resident Indians as well as be the coordinating officer," Ravi said.