The Hindu : Overseas Indians seek e-visa

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 13, 2004

National

National

Overseas Indians seek e-visa

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JAN. 12. About 1,500 overseas Indians who took part in the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) celebrations sought e-visa via the Internet besides a platform for better networking amongst the Diaspora and the creation of special economic zones for this segment in the country.

Summing up the sentiments aired by the participants, the Government today asserted that the celebrations were successful in creating a collective Diasporic consciousness and web-like relationship amongst the global Indian family.

Addressing a press conference, J.C. Sharma, Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, said while no instant redressal was possible for some of the issues, the three-day meet did throw up various suggestions and groups had made several recommendations that would be considered by the Government.

The visiting Diaspora made several interesting recommendations such as creation of a PIO SEZ for exporting products to countries in South Asia, Amit Mitra, Secretary-General, FICCI, co-organiser of the mega event along with the Ministry of External Affairs, said.

Mechanisms to integrate the activities of organisations such as the FIEO and the Indian Diaspora in various parts of the world for bringing the importers and exporters on one platform and creating a web-based information centre by organisations like the exporters' body were recommended.

Mr. Mitra said the participants were of the view that special arrangements and project financing mechanisms need to be set in place along with conducting feasibility studies for evolving global, regional and national vision so that Diaspora clusters and hubs could contribute to certain fixed economic targets.

Mr. Sharma said the Diaspora asked the Government to make efforts towards making India a global centre in knowledge economy with their help.

While referring to their demand for separate provisions for Indian Diaspora in a chapter exclusively devoted to them in the country's Exim policy, Mr. Mitra said that the need to have more training programmes for the overseas Indians to educate and familiarise them about the policy environment and business practices in India was particularly underlined. Expressing satisfaction on successful completion of the three-day extravaganza, Mr. Sharma said the need for bigger world class convention centres was felt during the celebrations and Prime Minister said the budgetary grant of Rs. 2,000 crores would also be used for building two such facilities in the country.

On the announcements made by the Government, he said bringing education fee of NRI wards at par with citizens and setting up of the Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra in the national capital with Rs. 25 crores Central endowment were significant developments towards attracting the Diaspora.

The Government was also studying the proposal of organising the celebration in different cities but unavailability of infrastructure required for such events was a hurdle.

He said the event let the "Bharatvanshis" (overseas Indians) get first hand feel of the motherland as well as understand modern India that is expected to grow at a rate of seven per cent annually.

Signing of MoUs with 15 Indian chambers of commerce abroad is also an important achievement of the celebrations, Mr. Mitra said, adding that many more such tie-ups were on the cards.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National