NRIs will get right to vote in Indian elections, promises Manmohan Singh

JAIPUR: Fulfilling a long-standing demand of its diaspora, India on Sunday said it would allowNRIs to vote and participate in the election process. 

"Pursuant to the law that was enacted to enable Non-resident Indians to vote in our national elections, the government has issued notifications for registration of overseas electors under the Representation of People Act, 1950," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said. 

"This constitutes the first major step to enable Indian residents abroad to participate in our election process," the prime minister said while addressing the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divasdiaspora meet here. 

He said the diaspora plays an important role in the growth and development of the country. The government recognises it, and was committed to address their concerns and fulfil their demands. 

"The government and people of India recognise and value the important role being played by Indian communities living abroad. We believe that Indian diaspora has much more to contribute to the building of modern India," the prime minister said. 

"We propose to facilitate, encourage and promote this engagement. Over the past year, we have taken a number of steps towards this end," he added, as he formally inaugurated the 10th annual diaspora meet, the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) here. 

Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said NRIs would be able to exercise their franchise in upcoming elections. 

"Indian nationals living abroad can now exercise their franchise in India at the time o f the elections," Ravi said. 

Now those NRIs who have registered with the embassies of their respective countries of stay, would be eligible to vote in the upcoming assembly elections in five states including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur. Polls will take place in these countries between Jan 28 and March 3. 

Ravi said objective of the government was to further increase engagements with diaspora. "Our objective is to raise the level of engagement to go beyond mere investment related issues and address a broader agenda." 

"We believe that this will provide the vast majority of you the opportunity to benefit from as well as contribute - each in your own way - to India's development story," the minister said. 

Later talking to media person, Ravi said this year's Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is the largest congregation of Indian diaspora. 

He said almost 1,900 delegates from around 60 countries were participating in the three-day event. 

PM addresses Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas

JAIPUR: There was chaos on day 2 of the 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressed the meet here. 

Former West Indies cricketer Brian Lara, who was part of the delegation led by the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Kamla Prasad Bissessar, was asked to sit in a separate room with TV installed with other members. Later the officials from the ministry of overseas Indian affairs came and took them to main hall. 

Several NRIs were miffed with the organizers as the main hall of Birla Auditorium, which has seating a seating capacity of 1350 people and around 1550 delegates had reached venue to attend the inaugural session. 

The event was chock-a-block by early Sunday morning and many VIP, including, VS Vyas, member of PM economic advisory council and deputy chairman of state planning commission were denied entry. 

Speaking at the meet, Singh called for more contribution from NRIs towards the growth of India and said the government would extend all help to NRIs for this. 

"The government and people of India greatly recognise and greatly value the important role being played by Indian communities living abroad. The Indian diaspora has much more to contribute towards the building of modern India. We propose to facilitate, encourage and promote this engagement," prime minister said. 

Singh further said that amendments have been introduced in the citizenship act to give recognition to the spouses of NRIs abroad. "In the last parliament session, we introduced a bill intended to merge and streamline people of Indian origin and overseas citizens of India scheme by amending the citizenship act. 

"This will rectify some of the anomalies in this scheme and provide for an overseas Indian card which will be given to the spouses of such Indians," he said. 

On Saturday, and a special pension and life insurance scheme was announced that would benefit over 5 million unskilled and semi-skilled workers employed overseas mostly in Gulf countries on temporary contract visas. 

Around 1,500 NRIs from 65 countries are attending the three-day annual conference that aims at attracting overseas Indians to contribute in their ways for the development of the nation. 

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived here on Saturday evening by a special aircraft and was received by Governor Shivraj Patil, chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Union minister Vayalar Ravi at Sanganer airport. 

PM to inaugurate 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas today

The venue of the three-day-long 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Birla Auditorium, on Saturday turned into a miniature India as over 1,300 NRIs from about five dozen countries mingled with each other on a sunny day.

The conference, which would formally be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday, has given them opportunity to find their roots in the country and also to think to pay back by setting up industries and investments in other areas, including infrastructure.

Rajasthan Government, Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), and Union Ministry for Overseas Indian Affairs, the joint host of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, had left no stone unturned to give a red carpet welcome to the people of Indian origin. Other than historical monuments, all the Government buildings have been illuminated tastefully. The entire Pink City has turned into a festive mood as NRIs thronged the markets for shopping.

As there were only two seminars on Saturday — one on “Management of water for future” and “Solar energy: investment and R D”, most of the delegated visited tourist spots like Amer Fort, Jantar Mantar, City Place and other sites.

Vayalar Ravi, Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, laid the foundation stone of the proposed Pravasi Bhawan at Situpura industrial area on the outskirts of the capital. The largest team of NRIs, nearly 200, has come from Malaysia. Harvinder Singh, a third generation Malaysian, has come here with his son. Other than visiting Golden Temple at Amritsar, he is here to explore the possibilities of investing in renewable energy sector.

“Before coming here I had gone through Rajasthan Government’s policy for wind and solar energy as western part of the State is ideal for generating pollution-free power,” he told The Pioneer.

Ashok Bhat, originally belong to Dungarpur and engaged in real estate business in California, for the past three decades, said “As two thermal power plants and one atomic energy plant is coming up in Dungarpur and Banswara area, if the State Government comes out with right kind of approach this could become the industrial hub of the State since these areas are close to Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

Bhat has submitted a proposal to the State Government to have an industrial park, which would help in attracting investment. He has the plan to visit Nathdwara Temple near Udaipur before returning to California.

Harvinder Singh and Bhat are not the only ones who are interested in investing here as they feel India is emerging as big economic power.

10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas off to a vibrant start in Jaipur

 Artists perform Rajasthani folk dance at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas-2012 conclave outside the B.M. Birla Auditorium in Jaipur on Saturday. 

Theme of this year's convention is ‘Global Indian: Inclusive Growth'

The 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas conclave got off to a flying start here on Saturday with a colourful display, depicting the rich and vibrant Rajasthani culture, followed by half-a-dozen parallel brainstorming sessions convened on subjects such as water management, solar energy, health care, tourism and tapping the potential of youth.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will formally inaugurate the prestigious annual event with his address at the main venue, the B.M. Birla Auditorium, on Sunday. The chief guest, Indian-origin Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Kamla Persad Bissessar, arrived here on Saturday.

The theme of this year's three-day convention is “Global Indian: Inclusive Growth.” Over 10 Union Ministers as well as Chief Ministers of six States are scheduled to address the delegates on different aspects of the country's development process.

Among those taking part in this flagship event will be about 1,500 NRIs and persons of Indian origin from 54 countries, leading businessmen, industrial magnates, government functionaries and young entrepreneurs.

Ms. Bissessar met acting Rajasthan Governor Shivraj Patil and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot here. Mr. Patil apprised her of the desert State's cultural heritage and the rapid strides being made in the modern scientific and industrial realms.

The Trinidad and Tobago Premier asked Mr. Gehlot to consider teaming up for a proposed oil refinery here, while pointing out that oil and natural gas production comprised 40 per cent of the gross domestic product of her country. Ms. Bissessar said her country had 100 years of experience in this sector.

Mr. Gehlot later told journalists that the State government would not expect huge investments from the event's participants, but would like to enhance interaction with the diaspora and seek their suggestions for giving a suitable direction to development: “This [event] would enable NRIs from all walks of life to come and see what is happening in their country.”

The Prime Minister is scheduled to interact with the State Council of Ministers for an hour at the Raj Bhavan here after inaugurating the conclave. Mr. Gehlot and his Cabinet colleagues are expected to apprise Dr. Singh of the State government's performance and difficulties over the past three years.

Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi inaugurated the Protector of Emigrants (POE) office at Sitapura on the outskirts of Jaipur. He said the ninth POE office established in the country would render assistance to the large number of people from the State who went abroad for jobs, particularly to the Middle East. The new office would do away with the need for prospective emigrants to travel to Delhi for emigration clearance, while the registered recruiting agents could file their applications online.

Addressing a seminar ‘Solar energy: Investment and R&D,' Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah said the sector could help preserve the global ecological balance. He emphasised the need for increased efficiency and better technology for harnessing the true potential of solar energy. The national diaspora could consider making investments for generating capacity and R&D, Mr. Abdullah said.

Speaking at a seminar ‘Health and wellness: Partnering with the diaspora,' Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said the share of healthcare in the GDP should be enhanced from the present 1 per cent to 2.5 per cent. The Centre was considering allowing medical practitioners having post-graduate degrees from the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to practise in India, Mr. Azad said.

President Pratibha Patil will address the closing ceremony of the conclave on Monday and give away awards to NRIs and PIOs in recognition of their achievements in different fields.

The three-day event has been jointly organised by the Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry, the Confederation of Indian Industry and the State government.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas kicks off

he Indian-origin Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, will be the chief guest at the 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, which kicked off in the pink city Saturday. President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and many Union ministers and chief ministers will address more than 1,500 delegates from 24 countries. The diaspora community will discuss the means and ways for how they can “contribute to the inclusive growth of the country” during the three-day annual event in Jaipur. This year’s conference will also deliberate on the ways to engage the young diaspora community in the country’s growth and also creating awareness among them about the rich and diverse culture of India. The event in the previous years had created a platform for the government to inform the diaspora community about its new initiatives for them and the investment opportunities in the country. The diaspora community would get a chance to raise their problems before the government. Union minister of overseas Indian affairs Vayalar Ravi said that the annual event organised by his ministry was crucial for the government to take action on NRIs’ voting rights and providing life-long visas for the persons of Indian origins (PIOs). He expressed his hope that many new initiatives would emerge after the Jaipur PBD. Connecting NRIs and PIOs with the panchayati raj would get priority among the new initiatives of his ministry, Mr Ravi said. “NRIs and PIOs will be naturally close to their villages. The government will encourage them to adopt a school or a hospital in their villages,” Mr Ravi said. Mr Ravi, however, said seeking investment was not his ministry’s job. The chief ministers who are going to address the delegates can invite investment in their respective states, he said. More than 10 chief ministers, including Gujarat’s Narendra Modi and Kerala’s Oommen Chandy, will be present at the event. President Patil will confer awards on NRIs and PIOs who have excelled in various fields during the closing ceremony of the event on Monday.