Dual citizenship for NRIs
by Narendra

   Hyderabad: Inaugurating the three-day long fourth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (Non-Resident Indian Convention) in Hyderabad today Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced dual citizenship for NRIs with effect from February 1. Stating that the most important aspect of reconnecting with the world was to reach out to the Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), the Prime Minister said that his Government is committed to creating a "hospitable and affordable climate for investment and enterprise, and of governance at all levels, and remove barriers to growth and competition." Acknowledging the stake of the Overseas Indian Community in local governance, Dr. Singh said that the demand by NRIs for voting rights at home was at an "advanced stage of consideration. We hope to take appropriate measures in this regard soon."

    Outlining the government's onsite welfare measures for NRIs and PIOs such as easy to use remittance facilities, plans to launch a more liberal insurance scheme for NRIs and PIOs from February 1, 2006, and streamlining and modernising emigration initiatives, Dr. Singh said that all these steps were being taken to "create an awareness among workers (NRIs and PIOs) about their rights and obligations." Pointing out the fundamental difference between the globalisation of India and many other developing countries, Dr. Singh said that as far as India is concerned, globalisation "was a natural means of linking up with the international community of Indians. Our civilisation is based on the idea of plurality, diversity, tolerance, and on the possibility of the co-existence of multiple identities." Lauding overseas Indians, workers and professionals for their skills and their contributions to India, Dr. Singh underlined the importance of "diaspora knowledge network". "There are an estimated four to five million overseas Indian workers all over the world. Every fifth member of the disapora is thus a worker. They have contributed a great deal to the economic and social empowerment of their families back home, to the development of their communities and to the economic enrichment of our country. I acknowledge with gratitude their contribution to India's development," Dr. Singh said. Expressing his happiness over the foreign presence of institutions like Delhi Public School and the Birla Institute of Technology, the Prime Minister emphasized the need for a policy framework to deal with foreign proposals to partner educational institutions in India. He also urged State Governments to take initiatives and devise strategies to tap the "developmental potential" of overseas Indians.

    The convention is being attended by several chief ministers who will tell non-resident Indians (NRIs) about the investment potential in their respective states. Finance Minister P Chidambaram is likely to announce the creation of a secure and fast electronic remittance gateway to India by which NRIs can send funds into the country. After his speech, the Prime Minister presented the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards to Bibhuti Rai and Iftikhar Ahmed Sharief, marking the the fulfilment of a commitment Dr. Singh had made at the Third Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas 2005 at Mumbai in January last year. The Prime Minister had said then, "I am happy to announce that we have decided to extend the facility of dual citizenship to all overseas Indians who migrated from India after 26th January, 1950, as long as their home countries allow dual citizenship under their local laws. I do hope that a day will come when every single overseas Indian who wishes to secure Indian citizenship will actually be able to do so." According to this Act, all the people of Indian origin in various countries, except Pakistan and Bangladesh, whose parents/grandparents migrated from India after 26th January 1950 or were eligible to become Indian citizen on 26th January 1950, or belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15th August 1947, will become eligible to be registered as the Overseas Citizens of India (OCI). The annual conclave is aimed at bringing together NRIs from 110 countries. Last year over 21 billion dollars were remitted to India. Minister of State for Overseas Indian Affairs Oscar Fernandes, chief guest Ahmed Kathrada of South Africa and S.K.Poddar, President of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) were among the distinguished dignitaries present at today's inaugural event.

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