Diaspora Questions

Ghanshyam Thori Indians Outside India (Diaspora)
Ghanshyam Thori Indians Outside India (Diaspora) 1

India Diaspora
Analysis
Schemes related to Indian Diaspora
o Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojana, 2006
o Know India Program
o Efforts by Indian Government to look after NRIs
o India Millenium Deposit Scheme
o Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs
o Nodal Agency to deal with Issues of Indians abroad.
o Under what conditions are NRIs permitted to deposit in India any currency of their choice.
o Significance of Pravasi Bhartiya Divas in modern India.
o Why January 9 was chosen to observe Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas.
o Categorize the People of Indian Origin.
o References made to the NRI in Union Budget 2004.
General Questions/Miscellaneous
o Why do NRIs retain their emotional attachment to India.
o Problems faced by NRIs if they decide to settle in India.
o Distinguish between NRI & PIO.
o Brain Drain.
o Reverse Migration
o Differences between Jewish & Indian Diaspora.
Indian Groups Abroad
o Madhesis in Nepal
o All India Women Contingent to Liberia
o Future of Indians in Fiji
o Exodous of Persons of Indian Origin from Uganda
o Idi Amin & his atrocities on Indians in his country.
o Indians in China
o Future of Indian Expatriates in the Gulf
Contribution of Indian Diaspora
o Contribution of NRIs to GCC countries
o Contribution of Indians in Silicon Valley
o Indians in the House of Lords, U.K.
o Mention Few Important NRIs.
o Role of NRIs in Liberalization process
o The Fields in which NRIs have excelled in developed countries
o In which specialities are Indians are wanted most abroad
o Impact of Gulf Remittances on Indias economy.
Famous NRIs
Amitav Ghosh India born Amitav Ghosh is a world renowned novelist and author. He was born in
Calcutta. He completed his graduation from St. Stephens College, Delhi University.
Amitav's latest work of fiction, The Hungry Tide was published in April 2004.
Other prominent works of Amitav are - The Shadow Lines (1990), In An Antique
Land (1994), The Circle of Reason (1986), The Calcutta Chromosome (1995), and
The Glass Palace (2000).
Vinod Khosla The India born Venture Capitalist, Vinod Khosla is one of the most influential
persons of the Silicon Valley. Vinod Khosla is in Forbes magazine's list of
America's richest 400 people. Vinod Khosla is a world renowned venture capitalist.
Vinod is revolutionizing communications. He rose into fame at the age of 27 when
he co-founded the Sun Microsystems. He is an alumnus of IIT, Delhi.
Vinod Dahm Vinod Dahm and the Pentium chip are synonymous with each other. It is so because
Vinod Dahm is the creator of the Pentium chip, which runs almost 90% of the
computers today. He is suitably known as the father of the Pentium processor.
Vinod was born in Pune, India in 1950. He received his initial education at Pune.
Vinod earned his bachelor's degree from the Delhi College of Engineering
Anita Desai Indian novelist and short story writer, Anita Desai is specially noted for her
insightful depiction of the inner life of the female characters in her writings. In
many of her works Anita Desai has highlighted the tensions among the family
members and estrangement of middle-class women. Anita Desai marked her debut
as a novelist in the year 1963 with the Peacock. It was followed by Voices of the
City; Fire on the Mountain (set in Kasuli, a hill station), "In Clear Light of Day,
Where Shall We Go This Summer, and The Zigzag Way. Anita Desai's works were
short listed for the Booker prize 3 times.
Lord Swaraj Paul Lord Swaraj Paul is a Britain based business magnate a philanthropist. He was born
in 1931 in Jalandhar, India. Swaraj Paul founded the multinational company
Caparo- the UK-based steel and engineering group. He was knighted by the British
Queen in the year 1978 and became the Lord Paul of Marylebone and a member of
the House of Lords.
Deepak Chopra The world famous motivational speaker and best selling author, Deepak Chopra was
a successful endocrinologist at Boston. Dr. Deepak Chopra has written best-selling
books like Ageless Body, Timeless Mind (1993) and The Seven Spiritual Laws of
Success (1995). Applying his innovative mind and medical techniques, Deepak
Chopra became a successful motivational speaker, with a series of multi-media
programmes for healing mind, body and spirit.
Arun Netravali Arun Netravali is an international scientist of Indian origin. Arun Netravali has
made many fundamental contributions in the areas of digital communications
technology. Presently Dr Arun Netravali is the President of the Bell Labs.
Balmurali
Ambati
Balamurali Ambati of India is the world's youngest doctor. Ambati graduated from
the New York University at the age of 13. Ambati received his degree from Mount
Sinai School of Medicine in New York in May 19, 1995. A National Merit Scholar
and a winner in the Westinghouse Science Talent Search & the International Science
& Engineering Fair, Balamurali Ambati Balamurali continued his education at
Harvard, specializing in ophthalmology. Ambati developed plans and strategies to
reverse corneal angiogenesis. Presently Balamurali Ambati is completing fellowship
in cornea & refractive surgery at the Duke University.
Bhikhu Parekh Lord Bhiku Parekh is a Britain-based political scientist. Lord Parekh is a member of
the House of Lords and has made significant contribution to the study of political
systems in Britain and India. His service as the vice-chancellor of Baroda
University, Gujarat, India reflects his deep and undying love for India.
Chittaranjan S.
Ranawat
Dr. Ranawat is one of the world's leading orthopedic and knee surgeons. Dr.
Ranawat is Chairman, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Lenox Hill Hospital,
USA. He was awarded the Padma Blushan by the President of India (2001) for
outstanding meritorious excellence
Gurinder Chadha Gurinder Chadha is an international filmmaker of Indian heritage. Gurinder started
off from the BBC and later went on to make documentaries. Then Gurinder Chadha
decided to enter the world of films. She has made some great films that South
Asian-Americans could relate to.
Dipak C Jain India born Dipak C. Jain is the dean of the Kellogg School of Management since
2001. Dipak C. Jain had joined the Kellogg School of Management faculty in 1986
as an associate professor and later became an associate dean. In 1994 Dipak was
named Kellogg school's Sandy and Morton Goldman Professor of Entrepreneurial
Studies and professor of marketing.
Gururaj
Deshpande
Dr. Gururaj Deshpande is the co-founder and chairman of the Sycamore networks
Inc. He is a powerful technology entrepreneur and futurist.
Hinduja Brothers The Hinduja Brothers include Prakash, Srichand, Gopichand and Ashok. Srichand
and Gopichand are based in Britain while Prakash resides in Geneva and Ashok in
Mumbai. The Hindujas are Great Britain's one of the richest families and among the
ten richest people in the country. The business empire of the Hinduja brothers is
worth billion of dollars. Initially the Hinduja brothers set up their business in Iran
and then they moved to London in 1979. The Hindujas are firm believers in
traditional family values and all through their journey they have striven to instill the
family concept in their business enterprises.
Ismail Merchant Born in India, Ismail Merchant is a director and producer of international repute.
The Duo of Ismail Merchant and James Ivory have made several internationally
acclaimed movies. The Merchant Ivory Productions has continued as one of the
most productive collaborations in cinema. It has produced films such as The
Europeans, Quartet, Heat and Dust, A Room with a View, Mr. and Mrs. Bridge,
Howard's End, The Remains of the Day Jefferson in Paris and Surviving Picasso.
Besides, Merchant has also directed two films for TV, "Mahatma and the Mad Boy"
and "The Courtesans of Bombay" for Britain's Channel Four.
Jagdish N
Bhagwati
Jagdish Bhagwati is a renowned professor of economics and is regarded as one of
the foremost international trade economist of modern times. Widely tipped as a
future Nobel laureate, Prof Bhagwati enjoys immense reputation among his
economist friends. Jagdish N. Bhagwati is presently University Professor at the
Columbia University and Senior Fellow in International Economics at the Council
on Foreign Relations.
Madhur Jaffrey One of the versatile Indians abroad, Madhur Jaffrey is an actress, culinary expert,
TV presenter, movie script and cook book writer. But it is for her cookery that
Madhur is best known. She was born in Delhi.
M. Arunachalam M. Arunachalam is a Hong Kong-based businessman. M. Arunachalam has played
an important role in promoting trade and investment between Hong Kong and India
as also between China and India. M. Arunachalam has held the post of chairman,
Indian Chambers of Commerce and president of the Asia Pacific Indian Chambers
of Commerce and Industry.
M. Night
Shyamalan
Manoj Night Shyamalan is a US based and internationally acclaimed Hollywood
director, screenwriter and actor. Shyamalan was born in Pondicherry, India.
Rajiv Gupta India born Rajiv Gupta is presently the GM of Hewlett Packard.
Rohinton Mistry Rohinton Mistry is a renowned novelist and author. Rohinton was born in India and
presently settled in Canada. His Such a Long Journey and A Fine Balance were
both short listed for the Booker Prize for Fiction, and Family Matters was short
listed for the 2002 Man Booker Prize for Fiction.
Sam Pitroda Satyanarayan Gangarm Pitroda, better known as Sam Pitroda was born in Titlagarh,
Orissa, India. The name, Sam Pitroda can better be explained by the yellow phone
booths all across India. Yes, it was mainly because of the efforts of this inventor,
technocrat, and social thinker that telecom revolution started in India. Currently, Mr.
Pitroda is the Chairman and CEO of World-Tel Limited, an International Telecom
Union (ITU) initiative. Mr. Pitroda lives in Chicago, Illinois
Shashi Tharoor Shashi Tharoor is prolific writer and UN Diplomat. Shashi has been with the UN
since 1978 when he joined the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in
Geneva. Shashi Tharoor served the UN in various capacities before assuming the
office of the Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information
of the United Nations in 2001. In this capacity, he is responsible for the
communication strategy, enhancing the image and effectiveness of the UN. In 2003,
the Secretary-General appointed him United Nations Coordinator for
Multilingualism.
Vikram Seth The world famous writer and poet Vikram Seth was born in Kolkata, India. Vikram
Seth possesses the art of creating a living and breathing world that keeps the readers
focused and engaged. Vikram Seth has published 6 books of poetry and 3 novels.
Vikram Seth's latest work is "Two Lives" (2005), a memoir of the marriage of his
great uncle and aunt.
Navnit Dholakia Navnit Dholakia, Baron Dholakia OBE (born 4 March 1937) is a British Liberal
Democrat politician. From 1997 to 2002 he served as a Liberal Democrat whip in
the Lords, and since 2002 he has been a Home Affairs Spokesman. He was elected
President of the party in 1999 and re-elected for a second term in 2002, in
November 2004 he was elected joint Deputy Leader in the House of Lords.
NRIs/PIOs in News (2007-08)
Khalid Hameed The appointment of this Lucknow born leading NRI doctor to the House of Lords
has kicked up a row in London with a probe sought into the alleged donations made
to the Liberal Democratic Party by Alpha Healthcare, which is linked to him.
Leading NRI doctor Lord Khalid Hameed has been adjudged Asian of the Year
2007 for his outstanding work in various walks of life, including his contribution to
health service.
Shantanu
Narayen
Indian American Shantanu Narayen has been appointed President and Chief
Executive Officer of Adobe System Incorporated from December one next replacing
Bruce Chizen.
Kiran Pande An Indian engineer, who was fired by her company (Chevron) after she complained
of her senior's racist conduct, has been awarded $5.5 million (about Rs 22 crore) by
a San Francisco federal jury.
Neville Joseph
Roach
Mr Neville Joseph Roach AO - a humble paragon, currently Chairing a large
number of high profile organisations such as, Fujitsu Australia Ltd, Australia India
Business Council and Smart Internet Technology CRC. Honoured at 6
th
Pravasi
Bharatiya divas 2008.
Karan Bilimoria Karan Faridoon Bilimoria is an entrepreneur and a life peer. He is best known as the
founder and chief executive of Cobra Beer. Honoured at 6
th
Pravasi Bhartiya Divas,
2008.
Harvinder
Takhar
Minister of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Canada
Ravi Pillai Dr Ravi Pillai, the Bahrain-based tycoon is presiding over a business empire that is
valued at 2.5 million US dollars and also generating employment for 28,000 Indians,
thus becoming the single largest employer of Indians in the Gulf. But what makes
Dr Pillai stand out in the legion of NRIs who ave struck it rich in their adopted
countries is not merely his taggering wealth but also his emotional bonding with his
parent country. Awarded at the 6
th
Pravasi Bhartiya Divas.
Renu Khator Indian American to lead prestigious university of Houston
S.R. Nathan Sellapan Ramanathan is the sixth and current President of the Republic of
Singapore.
Pravasi Bhartiya Divas
6
th
Pravasi
Bhartiya Divas,
2008
The 6th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas saw over 1,500 Non Resident Indians
from various parts of the globe. This time around NRIs from the Gulf were seen in
large numbers. They had much to share and also an equal amount to complain about.
The Indians settled in the Gulf had much to complain about. The horrific incident in
which over 200 workers in the Gulf had to return to India was still fresh in their
minds. Clearly they were asking for more from the Indian government -- a welfare
fund for the returnees, more protection from the government of India, just to name a
few. Apart from this, Indians from the Gulf complained extensively about the poor
air connectivity between the two countries, which was causing a major problem for
them. They said they had a major problem with Air India and also brought this to the
issue of the Indian government. Although they had so many complaints, they clearly
seemed to have the upper hand when compared to the rest of the NRIs.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said that at least 50 per cent of
the funds that roll into India from the NRIs is from the Gulf. It was evident that the
NRI from the Gulf was no longer interested in taking the back seat and being
preferred over the NRI from the West. They clearly were more outspoken and
demanded for their rights with authority. He assured them of better air connectivity.
He told a media conference later that a private airline will start flying into the Gulf
soon and this would sort out the problem. Regarding the Government carrier, he said
that the issue will be taken up. Ravi also said that a welfare fund for those who had
to come back under difficult circumstances from the Gulf is awaiting the Cabinet
nod.
Pravasi Bhartiya
Awards 2008
Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramagoolam was among the 11 people
honoured with the sixth Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards by President Pratibha
Patil at New Delhi, 2008.
Two Indian Americans Dr Thomas Abraham and Dr Joy Cherian figure among
the 12 distinguished Pravasi Bharatiyas who were honored by President Pratibha
Patil with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award for outstanding contributions to
their home countries and to relations with India at the end of the two-day 6th Pravasi
Bharatiya Divas here.
Dr Thomas Abraham, presently Chairman of Global Organization of People of
Indian Origin (GOPIO), organized the first convention of People of Indian Origin in
New York, and helped establish a number of NRI/PIO community organizations.
Dr Joy Cherian received the honor for guiding US business missions to India and for
public service. He was the first Asian to be appointed to a sub-cabinet position in the
US Government.
Among other winners of the PBD award are: Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime
Minister of Mauritius, was cited as a leader with genuine concern for the
disadvantaged sections of society and for nurturing and strengthening the bonds
between Mauritius and India. Neville Joseph Roach, chairman of TCS-FNS, was
honored for effectively advocating the cause of India and PIO in Australia. Dr Ravi
Pillai was conferred the award for being one of the largest employers of Indians
abroad and for welfare projects in India.
APS Mani was recognized for his pioneering work in community welfare in Japan.
Judge Ajit Swaran Singh received the honor for actively facilitating new migrants
from India to settle in New Zealand. Rafiudin S. Fazulbhoy was awarded for his
work in the field of education in Jeddah for children of Indian origin and service to
Haj pilgrims. Bicky Chakraborty was honored for his work in India and Sweden as a
philanthropist.
NRI & PIO A non-resident Indian (NRI) is an Indian citizen who has migrated to another
country, a person of Indian origin who is born outside India, or a person of Indian
origin who resides outside India. Other terms with the same meaning are overseas
Indian and expatriate Indian. In common usage, this often includes Indian born
individuals (and also people of other nations with Indian blood) who have taken the
citizenship of other countries.
A Person of Indian Origin (PIO) is usually a person of Indian origin who is not a
citizen of India. For the purposes of issuing a PIO Card, the Indian government
considers anyone of Indian origins up to four generations removed, to be a PIO. [1].
Spouses of people entitled to a PIO card in their own right can also carry PIO cards.
This latter category includes foreign spouses of Indian nationals, regardless of ethnic
origin. PIO Cards exempt holders from many restrictions applying to foreign
nationals, such as visa and work permit requirements, along with certain other
economic limitations.
The NRI and PIO population across the world is estimated at over 30 million (not
including Pakistan, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan diasporas).
The Indian government recently introduced the "Overseas Citizenship of India
(OCI)" scheme in order to allow a limited form of dual citizenship to Indians, NRIs
and PIOs for the first time since independence in 1947. It is expected that the PIO
Card scheme will be phased out in coming years in favour of OCI.
PIO Card Person of Indian Origin Card (PIO Card) is a form of identification issued to a
Person of Indian Origin who hold a passport in another country other than Pakistan
and Bangladesh.
Other conditions are:
1. person at any time held an Indian passport or;
2. person's parents or grand parents or great grand parents were born in and
permanent residents in India, but not moved to Pakistan and Bangladesh or;
3. person is spouse of a citizen of India or a person of Indian origin as per
above.
It came into force with effect from 15 September 2002.
Benefits:
The various benefits available to a PIO cardholders are:
1. No visa required for visiting India during the period of validity of PIO Card.
2. Exemption from the requirement of registration if stay in India does not exceed 6
months. Should the continuous stay exceed six months, registration will be
required within 30 days of the expiry of six months with the concerned
Foreigners Registration Officer.
3. Parity with non-resident Indians in respect of facilities available to the latter in
economic, financial and educational fields.
4. All facilities in the matter of acquisition, holding, transfer and disposal of
immovable properties in India except in matters relating to the acquisition of
agricultural/plantation properties.
5. Facilities available to children of NRIs for getting admission to educational
institutions in India including medical colleges, engineering colleges, Institutes
of Technology, Institutes of Management etc. under the general categories.
6. Facilities available under the various housing schemes of LIC, State
Governments and other Government agencies.
Limitations:
Persons with a PIO are not
1. allowed to vote
2. eligible for an inner line permit. They have to apply for a Protected area permit.
Overseas
Citizenship of
India
A foreign national, who was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26.01.1950 or
was a citizen of India on or at any time after 26.01.1950 or belonged to a territory
that became part of India after 15.08.1947 and his/her children and grand children, is
eligible for registration as an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI). Minor children of
such person are also eligible for OCI. However, if the applicant had ever been a
citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh he/she will not be eligible for OCI.
There is no plan to issue Indian passports to Overseas Citizens of India, although the
registration certificate will be in the form of a passport-like booklet (similar to the
Person of Indian Origin (PIO) Card mentioned below). The Cabinet has also directed
the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs to work on a proposal to give biometric
smart cards to registered Overseas Citizens of India.
An Overseas Citizen of India will enjoy all rights and privileges available to Non-
Resident Indians excluding the right to invest in agriculture and plantation
properties. There is no visa requirement for travel to India. The person has to carry
his existing foreign passport along with Registration Certificate. Alternatively, the
Overseas Citizen of India can apply for a new type of visa called U visa which is a
multi-purpose, multiple-entry, life-long visa for those that wish to acquire it. It will
entitle the Overseas Citizen of India to visit the country at any time for any length of
time and for any purpose.
An Overseas Citizen of India will not enjoy the following rights even if resident in
India: (i) the right to vote, (ii) the right to hold the offices of President, Vice-
President, Judge of Supreme Court and High Court, Member of Lok sabha, Rajya
Sabha, Legislative Assembly or Council, (iii) appointment to Public Services
(Government Service). Also Overseas Citizens of India are not eligible for an inner
line permit, they have to apply for a Protected area permit if they want to visit certain
areas in India.
NRI PIO PIO Card holder OCI
What benefits
one is entitled
to?
All
benefits
as
availabl
e to
Indian
citizen
subject
to
notificat
ion
issued by
the
Governm
ent from
time to
time.
No specific
benefits.
(1)Shall not require a separate
visa to visit India. (2) Will
be exempt from the
requirements of registration if
his/ her stay on any single
visit in India does not exceed
180 days.
(3) In the event of continuous
stay in India exceeding 180
days, he/she shall have to get
himself/herself registered
within 30 days of the expiry
of 180 days with the concerned
FRRO/FRO.
(4) Parity with NRIs in respect
of all facilities available to the
later in the economic,
financial and
educational fields excepts in
maters relating to the
acquisition of agricultural/
plantation properties. No parity
shall be allowed in the sphere of
political rights.
(1)A multiple entry
multipurpose life long
visa for visiting India.
(2)Exemption from
registration with local
police authority for any
length of stay in India.
(3)Parity with non
resident Indians (NRIs) in
respect of economics
financial and educational
fields except in relation to
the acquisition of
agricultural or plantation
properties. No parity shall
be allowed in the sphere of
political rights.
Any other benefit to OCIs
will be notified by the
Ministry of Overseas
Indian Affairs (MOIA)
under section 7B (1) of
the Citizenship Act 1955.
Does
he/she
require
visa for
visiting
India?
No Yes and of
specific
type
depending
on his /her
purpose of
visit.
Can visit India without visa
for 15 year from the date of
issue of PIO card.
Can visit India without
visa for life long.
What
activities
can be
under
taken in
India?
All
activities
Activity as
specified in
the visa
All activities except
mountaineering,
missionary and research
work and existing PAP/
RAP which require specific
permit.
All activities except
mountaineering,
missionary and research
work and existing PAP/
RAP which require
specific permit
Various Schemes/Features
NRI Accounts NRIs/OCBs (Overseas Commercial Bodies) can open the following types of
accounts with banks in India, which hold authorised dealer licences, as also other
banks, specifically authorised by the Reserve Bank to maintain accounts in the
names of NRIs/OCBs.
Rupee Accounts:-
1. Non-Resident (Ordinary) Account - NRO A/c.
2. Non-Resident (External) Rupee Account - NRE A/c.
3. Non-Resident (Non-Repatriable) - [(NRNR) discontinued since 01/04/2002]
4. Non-Resident (Special) Rupee - [(NRSR) discontinued since 01/04/2002]
Foreign Currency Accounts:-
Non-Resident (Foreign Currency) Account - FCNR A/c.
(in Pounds, Sterling, US Dollars, Japanese Yen and Euro).
A person, resident in India, who is earning foreign exchange, is also permitted to
maintain a Foreign Currency account in India with an authorised dealer bank, to the
extent of 50% of such foreign exchange earnings, under the Exchange Earners
Foreign Currency Account (EEFC) Scheme.
Q: What are the special features of each account?
The special features are as under:
NRO A/c.: The funds, standing to the credit of this account, cannot be repatriated
outside India in foreign exchange, without prior permission of the Reserve Bank of
India. Interest, earned on these accounts, is, however, eligible for repatriation outside
India, net of Indian taxes. The remittance of interest (net of taxes) will be permitted
by the authorised dealer, where the account is maintained, if the account holder
makes an application to the authorised dealer, in the prescribed form. No RBI
permission is required for remittance of interest.
NRE A/c.: The funds, standing to the credit of this account, as well as interest earned
thereon, are remittable outside India in free foreign exchange, without permission of
the RBI. The interest income is not subject to Indian Income-tax. Credits to the
accounts should be in the form of remittance in foreign exchange from outside India,
as well as other funds, which are eligible to be remitted outside India, in free foreign
exchange. Funds, emanating from local sources, are not eligible to be credited to
these accounts, unless these funds are otherwise remittable outside India, in terms of
the existing Exchange Control Regulations.
FCNR A/c.: These accounts can be opened in four foreign currencies:
Pounds Sterling;
US Dollars;
Japanese Yen;
Euro.
For the purpose of opening an account, remittance in foreign exchange, in the same
currency, should be received in India. The accounts can be opened only as fixed
deposits, with a minimum maturity of one year and, a maximum maturity of three
years. The principal, as well as interest, earned on these accounts, is remittable
outside India, in the same currency or, in other convertible currency, as desired by
the account holder. The interest, earned on these deposits, is exempt from Indian
Income-tax.
Know India
Program
Earlier known as Internship Programme for Diaspora Youth (IPDY), it is a three-
week internship programme for diaspora youth conducted by the Ministry of
Overseas Indian Affairs with a view to promote awareness on India, its socio-cultural
diversity, its all round development, its emergence as an economic powerhouse, it
being a centre of higher education and the ongoing developments in various fields
including infrastructure, Information technology etc.
Pravasi Bhartiya
Divas
As per the recommendation of High Level Committee on Indian Diaspora (HLCID),
the Government of India decided to celebrate Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in
recognition and appreciation of the constructive, economic and philanthropic role
played by the Indian Diaspora, on the 9th day of January every year. January 9 has
been chosen because it was on this day that Mahatma Gandhi, a Pravasi Bharatiya in
South Africa for almost 2 decades, returned to India in 1915.
Key Outcomes of PBD 2008
1) Prime Ministers Global Advisory Council of People of Indian Origin
2) India Development Foundation Empowerment of Rural Women
3) Council for the Promotion of Overseas Employment
4) India Diaspora Knowledge Network
5) PIO University
6) Mini-PBD in different parts of the world
E-remittance
gateway
Overseas Indians have limited choice of either using the fast but expensive facility or
the economic but relatively slow facility to remit money back home. Keeping this in
view, the ministry has partnered with the UTI bank to develop an integrated,
universal, electronic remittance gateway that combines the virtues of economy,
speed and convenience. The remittance gateway is targeted to be fully operational in
the GCC countries, to begin with by January 2007.
AAPI India
Health Initiative
A MOU was signed with the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin
during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2006. The main objective of the scheme is to
promote, establish and operate primary health care project through public private
partnership with AAPI.
Pravasi Bhartiya
Bima Yojana
A compulsory Insurance Scheme for the emigrants going abroad for employment
known as Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY) 2003 came into force from
25.12.2003. The PBBY, 2003 has now been upgraded as the Pravasi Bhartiya Bima
Yojana, 2006 to provide broader coverage to the emigrant workers. The PBBY, 2006
has come into effect from 01.02.2006. The emigrant workers will now get a
minimum insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakhs (instead of Rs. 2 lakhs) and the policy will
be for the entire period of employment contract
Predeparture
Orientation &
Skill
Development
The scheme of Pre Departure Orientation & Awareness programme for workers and
skill upgradation of Indian Workers is started by the Ministry of Overseas Indian
Affairs to impart orientation training and to upgrade the skills of Indian Workers
intended to go abroad to give them competitive edge over the workers from other
countries
Scholarship
Program for
Diaspora
Children (SPDC)
Under the proposed Scholarship Scheme, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs
(MOIA) provides 100 scholarships to Indian students each year starting from 2006-
07. The students are selected on the basis of an entrance test conducted by M/s
Educational Consultants India Limited (Ed.CIL), an autonomous body under MHRD
with whom the Ministry is working on a partnership basis
DASA Scheme DASA stands for Direct Admission to Students Abroad. This Government of India
has designated the Educational Consultants of India Limited (Ed.CIL) as the
coordinating agency for carrying on the DASA Scheme. Under this scheme,
deserving foreign nationals/ Persons of Indian Origins (PIOs) and Non-Resident
Indians (NRIs) are given direct admission to undergraduate Programmes offered by
the National Institutes of Technology and other centrally funded institutes (other than
IITs) and Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh .
New Scheme for
Deserted Indian
Women
The objective of the scheme is to provide some financial assistance to needy women
in distress who have been deserted by their overseas Indian spouses for obtaining
counseling and legal services. The term Overseas Indian would include NRIs and
foreign citizens of Indian origin. The counseling and legal services would be
provided through credible Indian Womens Organizations/Indian Community
Associations and NGOs identified for providing such services and empanelled with
the Indian Missions in the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the
Gulf. The scheme is a welfare measure to support women of Indian origin in
distress, through the mobilization of the local Indian community in the endeavor and
with some financial assistance from the Government.
PIO University Indian Government has approved a policy framework to establish a NRI/PIO
University in India in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) as a Deemed University de-
novo under Section 3 of the UGC Act as an Institution of Excellence
Trace Your
Roots Program
A program which helps members of the Diaspora to establish the identity of their
ancestral villages & to re-establish the social link that was snapped in the distant
past. It works through interactive mode by developing a database through a
questionnaire, transmission of the data to the administrative unit in the relevant
district in India.
Indian Diaspora in Various Contries
Indians in UK According to the April 2001 UK National Census. There are 1,051,800 people of
Indian origin in the UK. Hindus comprise 45% of the population, Sikhs 29%,
Muslims 13%, and Christians nearly 5%. 2005 Estimates state 2.41% of England's
population as being Indian (not inc. Mixed race) which is around 1,215, Following
continuous trend (including those of mixed Indian ancestry), in 2008 there are likely
to be well over 1,600,000 Indian people in the UK.
Indians in
Australia
The total number of student visa's granted to Indian students for the year 2006-2007
were 34,136 a significant rise from 2002-2003 when 7,603 student visa's were
granted Indian students. Many in the community are Hindu and Sikh, while there
also smaller number of Christians and Muslims. Their are about 260,000 Indians
living in Australia
Indians in
Middle East/Gulf
There is a huge population of Indians in the Middle East, most coming from Kerala
and other south Indian states, especially in the oil rich countries neighboring the
Persian Gulf. Most moved to the Gulf after the oil boom to work as labourers and for
clerical jobs. Indians - all foreigners, in fact - in the Gulf do not normally become
citizens however. They retain their Indian passports since most of the countries in the
Gulf do not provide citizenship or permanent residency. One of the major reasons
why Indians like to work in the Gulf is because it provides incomes many times over
for the same type of job back in India and its geographical proximity to India. The
Indian Diaspora makes up a good proportion of the working class in the GCC. In
2005, about 40% of the population in the United Arab Emirates were of Indian
descent.
Indians in
Mauritius
Outside of India itself, Mauritius is the only country where people of Indian Origin
form the vast majority (not including Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago where Afro-
Trinidadiand and Indo-Trinidadians have equal populations, or Fiji where the Indo-
Fijians once formed the majority but not today). The people are known as Indo-
Mauritians, and form about 70% of the population. The majority of them are Hindu
(77%) and significant groups are Muslims (22%).
Indians in South
Africa
Most Asians in South Africa are descended from indentured Indian labourers who
were brought by the British from India in the 19th century, mostly to work in what is
now the province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). The rest are descended from Indian
traders who migrated to South Africa at around the same time, many from the
Gujarat area. The city of Durban, has the largest Asian population in sub-Saharan
Africa, and the Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi worked as a lawyer in
the city in the early 1900s. South Africa in fact has got the largest population of
people of Indian descent outside of India in the world ie: born in South Africa and
not migrated, compared to the U.S. Most of them are fourth to fifth generation
descent. They mainly belong to the Hindu (the largest) and Muslim religious
groupings. Most of them speak English as a first language (due to the British rule of
the Natal colony), although some elders do speak Indian languages as a first
language.
Indians in E.
Africa
Indian migration to the modern countries of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania started
nearly a century ago when these were part of British East Africa. Most of these
migrants were of Gujarati or Punjabi origin. Indian-led businesses were (or are) the
backbone of the economies of these countries. After independence from Britain in
the 1960s, the majority of Asians, as they were known, moved out or were forced out
from these countries. Most of them moved to Britain, or India, or other popular
destinations like the USA and Canada.
Indians in the
Carribean
From 1838 to 1917, over half a million Indians from the former British Raj or British
India, were brought to the British West Indies as indentured servants to address the
demand for labour following the abolition of slavery. Indo-Caribbeans are the largest
ethnic group in Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad.
Few Famous
NRIs
Amartya Sen, Lord Swaraj Paul, Vinod Khosla, Laxmi Mittal, Salman Rushdie,
Sabir Bhatia & Zubin Mehta (Musician, Conductor).
Indians in the
House of Lords
Due to the contributions & influence of British Indians, a number of them have been
nominated or elected in the house of lords like Lord Swaraj Paul, Bhikhu Parkekh
(political scientist), Navnit Dholakia (politician), Khalid Hameed (Doctor) among
others.
Related
Abbreviations
ECR- Emigration Check Required
FIPB- Foreign Investment Promotion Board
KIP- Know India Programme
MEA- Ministry of External Affairs
MHA- Ministry of Home Affairs
MOIA- Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs
OCB- Overseas Corporate Body
OCI- Overseas Citizenship of India
PBD- Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
JCI- Joint Commission International
Girimata Girmitias as people of Indian Origin taken as indentured labourers in ships by the
Countries British during the colonial times like Mauritius, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana,
Surinam, Fiji, South Africa & Jamaica.
Problems NRIs
face in India
Following are the problems
1. Sea change in the work culture
2. Lack of infrastructure
3. Bureaucratic hurdles.
4. Lack of technology.
Fields where
NRIs have
excelled
NRIs have excelled in Information Technology, Medical sciences, Engineering,
Academics & Trade & Commerce. We have examples of Vinod Khosla, Khalid
Hameed, Hinduja Brothers, Salman Rushdie, N.C. Choudhary, V S Naipaul, Prof
Amartya Sen etc.
Fields in which
Indians are most
wanted
Indians are wanted as both skilled & unskilled labour in the field of IT, Medical
science, Egnineering, Teaching, Scientific research & as plumbers & labour.
Effort by GoI for
NRIs
It includes measures like
1. Relaxation in Stay period
2. Special Treatment in Investment in different fields
3. Special treatment in interest payment.
4. Both Rupee & Foreign Currency Accounts.
5. Reservation in Education institutes for Diaspora Children.
NRIs
Contribution to
Indias Devp
NRIs have not only contributed in economic liberalization by investing in India but
they also play important role as pressure groups in International forum & in
upgrading bilateral relations between various countries.
Reverse
Migration
Indians abroad are returning home, and offering the country a "brain gain" that could
help solve some of India's crushing social problems. Drawn by a booming economy,
in which outsourcing is playing a crucial role, and the money to buy the lifestyle they
had in America/Europe, Indians are returning in large numbers
Gulf Remittances Worldwide, remittances reached $318 billion in 2007. India topped the list of
recipients with $27 billion, followed by China with $25.7 billion and Mexico with
$25 billion. More than 70 % of the remittances come from Gulf countries.
Interestingly, India received the highest inbound remittances with only 22 million
non-resident Indians, while there are about 40 million Chinese residing outside
China. This was primarily due to the social and family structure in India.

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