The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : `State to set up NRI Department'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 10, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

`State to set up NRI Department'

Special Correspondent

Mixed reaction to oppose presentation of Pravasi Samman award to Sudhir Parikh

CONTROVERSIAL HONOUR: President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam looking at Satyanath Chowdary (not in picture) who protested against the awarding of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award to Sudhir Parikh, an allergy specialist, at the valedictory function of Pravasi B haratiya Divas in Hyderabad on Monday. Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

HYDERABAD: A separate Non-Resident Indian Department is being set up to work for the welfare of overseas Indians hailing from Andhra Pradesh.

Announcing this at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas here on Monday here, Minister for Information Md. Ali Shabbir said that efforts were on to create a single-window system cell to provide various services under one roof to benefit the visiting expatriates and NRIs coming to the State.

The Minister said the NRI department would provide counselling and guidance to perspective and present NRIs in the Gulf on various issues. A consultancy service for saving and investments for the prospective NRIs would be provided in addition to assistance in liasing with various departments. Creation of awareness about immigration laws and pre-departure training programmes were some of the other functions, he added.

For Gulf NRIs' help

Stating that Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy would head the department, Mr. Shabbir added the Government was exploring other avenues for the NRIs of the State to evolve a special group insurance scheme with coverage of accident, health and other benefits, besides special insurance package for dependants of NRIs in India. A special institution to provide demand based practical, vocational and professional training to intending work overseas was planned.

An overseas employment exchange and creation of manpower corporation to meet the labour demand overseas were also planned. He said Osmania University and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University had agreed to introduce distance education programmes for Gulf NRIs. An amendment to domicile law in professional courses for Gulf NRI children who have passed 10+2 was proposed.

Open protest

Meanwhile, the flutter created by Professor Satyanath Chowdary's open protest in front of President A.P. J. Kalam decrying the presentation of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award to US allergist Sudhir Parikh by evoked mixed response from the delegates. "He (Sudhir Parikh) is an agent of Modi," Dr. Chowdary alleged.

Minutes after Mr. Chowdary and another person identified as Ataullah Khan along with unidentified delegate were whisked away by the police, a Gujarati doctor from the US, Bharat Baria came out openly in support of Dr. Parikh. Taking objection to incident, Dr. Baria said a few persons could not resort to such act and humiliate a gentleman.

However, Kishore Kaul, council president, Sherrif's Indo-American Advisory Council, said there were more deserving Indians in the US who should have got the award.

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