Overview of Indian Diaspora:
- Indian Diaspora is second largest in the world after China.
- About 25 million people spread across 200+ countries.
- 5 million of them in gulf region.
Nobel Winner Indian Diaspora:
Remittances:
Remittance= Indian person working abroad, and sends money back to his family in India.
According to World Bank report, the remittances received by India is higher than China. (despite the fact the size of Chinese diospora >> Indian).
What is Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD)?
- Every 9th January. Since 2003.
- Organized by Ministry of Overseas affairs.
- This day is celebrated to mark the contribution of Overseas Indian community in the development of India.
- It provides an interaction platform for overseas Indians to address their issues and concerns to Indian Government.
Why is PBD celebrated on 9th January?
- Because on 9th January 1915, Gandhi returned from India from South Africa.
- Note: some websites say Gandhi returned on 7th Jan. but official website of Ministry of Overseas Indian affairs says it was 9th Jan.
What happens during PBD?
- It is usually a three day event (7 to 9 January).
- Delegates from various countries participate in seminars, conferences.
- Speeches made by by PM, President.
- Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards given to meritorious people.
- This convention also helps in “networking” among the overseas Indian community. So they can share their experiences in various fields, make business deals etc.
10th vs 11th: Themes, location, chief-guest
- About 2,000 Non-Resident Indian delegates from 44 countries participated in the 11th CBD.
What did PM Mannohan Singh say?
#1: Invest in India
- In last four years, Two financial crisis emerged from the developed world.
- Between
- 2004-10, our GDP growth rate was 8%, but in 2011-12 it has came down to 6.5%.
- But we are confident that things will be back on track.
- So NRIs, please be partners of India’s growth (=you fellas invest money in India so we can develop).
- We need new approaches to address challenges in infrastructure, education, energy, water and agriculture.
#2: Safety for Indians abroad
- Indian expatriate community has developed a more global presence.
- And in the process, they’ve also become more vulnerable to economic crises, conflicts, civil unrest or just senseless hate crimes.
- We are concerned about the safety and security of overseas Indians. (in individual hate crimes, and in national crisis such as Arab spring, Libya etc.)
- We want not just “physical” safety but also social + emotional well-being of Indians living overseas. Therefore:
- We’ve launched an insurance scheme for workers.
- We’ve established welfare funds in embassies for distressed Indians.
- We’ve created mechanisms to help vulnerable women abroad.
#3: Social security Deals
- We’ve signed four new social security agreements with Finland, Canada, Japan, and Sweden, to provide provide exemption from double payment of social security.
- Very soon we’ll also sign two more agreements with Austria and Portugal
- We’ve also negotiating such agreements with GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries.
#4: Ghadar Stamp
- We’ve launched this Rs.5 Ghadar Stamp
- We’ll upgrade of the Ghadar memorial in San Francisco into a functional museum and library
- We’ll also install a sculpture in that memorial, to honour Ghadar patriots.
Ghadar Movement stamp released:
- In 1913, the Punjabis in USA and Canada founded Ghadar Party to liberate India from the British rule.
- Prominent leaders of Gadar Party= Sohan Singh Bhakna and Kartar Singh Sarabha.
- 2013 = 100 years passed since formation of Gadar Party.
- Therefore, Mohan released a five rupee stamp during Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to commemorate the Ghadar Movement Centenary
Criticism
- Image on the postal stamp shows a few hands with torches.
- Scholars feel this image doesn’t relate to the Ghadar movement; the stamp should have been more specific.
What did President Pranab say?
- To attract Overseas Indians to invest in India, we’ve: Allowed QFI to Invest in Indian Capital market.
- Foreign Currency Non Resident account Banks (FCNR) scheme.
- To help Overseas Indians easily travel in India, we’ve made Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cards
- Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) cards
What did Purryag say?
Mauritius President Rajkeswur Purryag, was the chief guest at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. He said
India wants a permanent seat @ UN Security Council, and we (Mauritius) totally support India for this.
Criticism against Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD):
- Leaders and rich NRIs meet for wine-n-dine.
- Only lip service.
- No concrete action.
- So far 11 PBDs have been held, yet following problems are not solved.
#1: Travel problems
- Air India doesn’t have enough flights.
- For NRIs it is very difficult to return home during festival season because All airlines intentionally increase the ticket price. A ticket to ticket from Dubai to Trivandrum that usually cost Rs 15000 is suddenly increased to Rs.75000!
#2: Voting rights
- While Government amended the Act to give voting rights to NRIs. But problem= they’ve to come back to India to cast their vote. Now who has the time and money to do that?
- NRIs want online voting facility or some other arrangement like voting at the Indian embassy in their respective country.
- But Government is not serious about implementing it. So the whole “NRI voting” = #EPICFAIL.
#3: Other problems
- Colleges charge way too high fees for NRI quota admissions.
- For NRIS, the Pravasi Bharatiya registration fees was $250. So participation is limited to only the “elites” among the NRIs.
- Indians languishing in foreign prisons even without trial or after the completion of terms. Yet no legal and financial assistance is given to them by Indian embassies.
- Lack of rehabilitation/finance facilities for those NRIs who returned home after recession in USA and elsewhere.
- Gulf returnees are harassed @customs.
- plight of the aged and sick parents back home
- Psychological problems of the children who grow up without proper affection or guidance of their parents.
Air Kerala
- During PBD-2013, the CM of Kerala announced that Kerala Government is planning to setup its own “Air Kerala”
- because Air India gives step-motherly treatment to Kerala workers in Gulf countries. (e.g. not enough flights, very high ticket prices during vacation and festivals).
Awards: (PBSA)?
Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) is the highest honour conferred on overseas Indians.
Total 15 awards given.
Two Important names (for exam) are:
How is a person selected for PBD award?
- Indian embassies across the world, send nominations.
- If a person won this award previously, he can nominate one person.
- All nominations go to the five-member jury. (Appointed by PM.)
- Jury decides who’ll get award.
- Award is presented by the President of India.
