The efforts made so far to make relationship of overseas
Indians with India more cordial and mutual include various
schemes for Overseas Indians comprising Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) and
Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizenship of India matters, Pravasi
Bharatiya Divas, Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards, Scholarships to NRI/PIO
students in India and new initiatives to promote interaction and cordial
relationship of overseas Indians with India in tourism, media, youth affairs,
education, culture among other areas. The details are as follows:
(i) Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD)
To connect India to its vast overseas diaspora and bring
their knowledge, expertise and skills on a common platform, the PBD Convention
- the flagship event of MOIA is organized from 7th-9th
January every year since 2003.
Twelve PBDs have been held earlier in
various places of India so far as follows:
|
YEAR
|
Dates
|
Venue
|
|
2003
|
9-11
January, 2003
|
New
Delhi
|
|
2004
|
9-11
January, 2004
|
New
Delhi
|
|
2005
|
7-9
January, 2005
|
Mumbai
|
|
2006
|
7-9
January, 2006
|
Hyderabad
|
|
2007
|
7-9
January, 2007
|
New
Delhi
|
|
2008
|
7-9
January, 2008
|
New
Delhi
|
|
2009
|
7-9
January, 2009
|
Chennai
|
|
2010
|
7-9
January, 2010
|
New
Delhi
|
|
2011
|
7-9
January, 2011
|
New
Delhi
|
|
2012
|
7-9
January, 2012
|
Jaipur
|
|
2013
|
7-9
January, 2013
|
Kochi
|
|
2014
|
7-9
January, 2014
|
New
Delhi
|
The
12thedition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention was held at
Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi from 7th– 9thJanuary, 2014. The
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports was the Partner Ministry for the PBD
2014. The theme of this year’s PBD was ‘Engaging Diaspora: Connecting across
Generations’. The Prime Minister inaugurated the annual flagship event of the
Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs on 8thJanuary and the Hon’ble
President delivered the Valedictory Address and conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya
Samman Awards on 9thJanuary to 13 distinguished overseas Indians for
their notable contributions in different field.
Dato’
Seri G. Palanivel, Federal Minister for National Resources and Environment,
Government of Malaysia was the Chief Guest of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas held at
New Delhi in January, 2014.
PBD
2014 had special sessions on youth on 7thJanuary called the “Youth
PBD”. Further, there were various sessions on India’s Growth &
Development, India’s Soft Power, Issues of NRIs in the Gulf, Media and
Entertainment Industry, Meeting of Diaspora Organisations, the PBD Oration, and
sessions on Investment Opportunities in States, Innovation and Technology, Healthcare
Opportunities in India etc. on the 2ndand 3rddays of
PBD. Enthusiastic participation of nearly 2000 delegates from different
heterogeneous and diverse overseas Indian community spread across the globe and
India had made PBD Convention 2014 a hugely successful one.
(ii) Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards (PBSA)
The Award shall be conferred on a Non-Resident Indian,
Person of Indian Origin or an organization or institution established and run
by Non-Resident Indians or Persons of Indian Origin, who has made significant
contribution in any one of the following fields:
(a) Better understanding abroad of India;
(b) Support to India’s causes and concerns in a tangible
way;
(c) Building closer links between India, the overseas
Indian community and their country of residence;
(d) Social and humanitarian causes in India or abroad;
(e) Welfare of the local Indian community;
(f) Philanthropic and charitable work;
(g) Eminence in one’s field or outstanding work, which
has enhanced India’s prestige in the country of residence; or
(h) Eminence in skills which has enhanced India’s
prestige in that country (for non-professional workers).
It is conferred by the President of India as a part of
the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention. PBSA is the highest honor
conferred on overseas Indians. So far, 164 Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards have
been conferred on PIOs and NRIs. During PBD 2014, 13 prominent Overseas
Indians were given PBSAs for their notable contributions in different fields.
PBSA 2014 was conferred on the following:
|
Sr.
No.
|
Awardees
Name
|
Country
|
|
1.
|
Ms.
Senator Lisa Maria Singh
|
Australia
|
|
2.
|
Mr.
Kurian Varghese
|
Bahrain
|
|
3.
|
Mr.
Vasdev Chanchlani
|
Canada
|
|
4.
|
Ramakrishna
Mission, Fiji
|
Fiji
|
|
5.
|
Mr.
Bikas Chandra Sanyal
|
France
|
|
6.
|
Mr.
Satnarainsing Rabin Baldewsingh
|
The
Netherlands
|
|
7.
|
Mr.
Sasindran Muthuvel
|
Papua
New Guinea
|
|
8.
|
Shri
Shihabudeen VavaKunju
|
Saudi
Arabia
|
|
9.
|
Mrs.
Ela Gandhi
|
South
Africa
|
|
10.
|
Dr.Shamsheer
Vayalil Parambath
|
UAE
|
|
11.
|
Mr.
Shailesh Lakhman Vara
|
UK
|
|
12.
|
Dr.
Parthasarathy Chiramel Pillai
|
USA
|
|
13.
|
Ms.
Renu Khator
|
USA
|
(iii) Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (RPBD)
This Ministry organizes Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
(RPBD) to allow participation of the Indian diaspora who are unable to attend
annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in India. So far, 7 Regional Pravasi
Bharatiya Divas have been held at New York, Singapore, The Hague, Durban,
Toronto, Mauritius and Sydney. These have elicited enthusiastic support
from the Indian diaspora and the local Government and have been highly
successful.
7thRegional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (RPBD)
Convention was organized by MOIA in Sydney, from 10th - 12thNovember,
2013 to have interaction & discussion with Indian Diaspora to ensure their
connectivity with their ancestral motherland as well to know their expectations
& concerns. Secondly, the guiding spirit of the decision to hold the 7thRPBD
in Australia was on account of the sentiments of the Indian diaspora in the
region. Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea represent an
important region for our diaspora, and the Indian community has been taken note
of by the leadership of all political parties, there.
The theme of the PBD Convention in Sydney was “Connecting
for a Shared Future: The Indian Diaspora, India and the Pacific”. This
was appropriate, as the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas seeks to reach out to both
members of the Indian origin community as well as all those persons who are
interested in plugging into India’s growing relationship with Australia and its
neighboring countries.
The programme for the event included an inaugural session
on Sharing Experiences and breakout sessions on different topics including
Bilateral Business Opportunities in Services, Resources, Primary Commodities,
Engagement through Culture, Indian Languages, Skills, Infrastructure (Airports,
Ports, Road and Construction), Manufacturing, Education, Culture and Youth
Dialogue. There were breakout sessions also on Sharing Experiences, The Indian
Diaspora in the Pacific, Honoring the Success Stories, Scientists and
Academics, Women in Business and Community, Power of Media in the Asian Century
and India Australia Strategic Partnership.
Eighth (8th) Regional Pravasi Bhartiya Divas
is scheduled to be organized in London from 17th October to 19th
October, 2014.
(iv) Know India Programme (KIP)
The objective of the Ministry's Know
India Programme is to help familiarize Indian Diaspora youth, in the age group
of 18-26 years, with developments and achievements made by the country and
bringing them closer to the land of their ancestors. KIP provides a unique
forum for students and young professionals of Indian origin to visit India,
share their views, expectations and experiences and to bond closely with
contemporary India. The Ministry has conducted 28 editions of KIPs so far and a
total of 866 overseas Indian youth participated in these programmes. +
The participants are selected based on
nominations received from Indian Missions/Posts abroad. They are provided
hospitality and are reimbursed 90% of their economy class return airfare from
their respective countries to India. The programme content broadly includes the
following:
(a) Presentations on India, the
Constitution, the political process, etc.
(b) Interaction with faculty and students
at a prestigious University / College / Institute
(c) Presentation on industrial development
and visit to some Industries
(d) Visit to a village to better
understand the typical village life in India
(e) Exposure to Indian media and cinema
(f) Interaction with NGOs and
organizations dealing with women's issues
(g) Visits to places of historical
importance or monuments
(h) Participation in Cultural programmes
(i) Exposure to Yoga
(j) Call on high dignitaries, which may
include the President of India, the Chief Election Commissioner of India, the
Comptroller and Auditor General of India, and Ministers in-charge of Overseas
Indian Affairs, Youth Affairs and Sports, etc.
(v) Study India Programme (SIP)
The first 'Study India Programme' (SIP) was organized
from 25 September to 23 October, 2012 in Symbiosis University, Pune,
Maharashtra with participation of 9 youths of Indian origin from four countries
like Trinidad & Tobago, Malaysia, Fiji and South Africa. Like KIP, SIP has
immense potential of connecting youth Indian Diaspora with India through the
channel of educational institutions.
The SIP enables Overseas Indian youth to undergo short
term course in an Indian University to familiarize them with the history,
heritage, art, culture, and socio-political, economic developments etc. of
India. The focus of the programme is on academic orientation and research. Cost
of boarding, lodging, local transportation, course fee during the programme and
90% of the cost of air-ticket by economy class is borne by Govt. of India.
Gratis Visas by Indian Missions are granted to the participants.
The 2ndSIP was conducted from 01.11.2013 to
28.11.2013 at the Symbiosis University, Pune, and Maharashtra with the
participation of 14 youths of Indian origin.
(vi) Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children
(SPDC)
A scheme called 'Scholarship Programme for Diaspora
Children (SPDC)' was launched in the academic year 2006-07. Under the scheme
100scholarships upto US$ 4000 per annum are granted to PIO and NRI students for
under graduate courses in Engineering/Technology, Humanities/Liberal Arts,
Commerce, Management, Journalism, Hotel Management, Agriculture/Animal
Husbandry etc. The scheme is being implemented by Educational Consultants India
Limited (Ed. CIL), a Government of India Enterprise under the Ministry of Human
Resource Development. The scheme is open to NRIs / PIOs/OCIs from 40 countries
with substantial Indian Diaspora population. A total of 660 candidates have availed
the scholarship since inception of the scheme. SPDC scheme has been modified
and it has been decided to do away with the "Common Entrance Test
(CET)" for selecting PIO/OCI and NRI students for the award of
scholarships. The applications from students who meet the prescribed
eligibility criteria are evaluated and short listed by a selection committee
consisting of officers from the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Ed.CIL
(India) Ltd. and MOIA and recommended for selection to the competent authority.
(vii) Overseas Citizen
of India (OCI) Card Scheme
Keeping in view Government's deep commitment of engaging
Persons of Indian Origin with the land of their ancestors in a mutually
beneficial relationship, the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Scheme was
launched in August, 2005 by amending the Citizenship Act, 1955. The OCI Scheme
is operated by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Scheme provides for
registration as Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) of all Persons of Indian
Origin (PIOs) who were citizens of India on or after 26 January, 1950 or were
eligible to become citizens of India on 26 January, 1950and who are citizens of
other countries, except Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The Scheme provides for the issue of OCI documents
consisting of OCI registration certificate and universal visa sticker to PIOs.
The Scheme has been operational since January 2006and as on 31 March, 2014, a
total number of 15,25,890 PIOs had been registered as OCIs.
A registered Overseas Citizen of India is granted
multiple entry, multi-purpose, life-long visa for visiting India, and is
exempted from registration with Foreigners Regional Registration Office for any
length of stay in India. As mandated under the Allocation of Business, the
Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has issued notifications granting
registered OCIs further benefits as under:
(i)
Parity
with Non-Resident Indians in the matter of inter-country adoption of Indian
children;
(ii)
Parity
with resident Indian nationals in matters of tariffs in domestic airfares;
(iii)
Parity
with domestic Indian visitors in respect of entry fee for visiting national
parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India;
(iv)
Parity
with non-resident Indians in respect of:
(a)
entry
fee for visiting the national monuments, historical sites and museums in India;
(b)
practicing
the following professions in India, in pursuance of the provisions contained in
the relevant Acts, namely:
·
Medicine,
dentists, nursing and pharmacy;
·
Law;
·
Architecture;
and
·
Chartered
Accountancy; and
(v) Entitlement to appear for the All India Pre-Medical
Test or such other tests to make them eligible for admission in pursuance of the
provisions contained in the relevant Acts.
However, the OCI is not 'dual nationality'. OCI does not
confer political rights. Detailed instructions and procedures concerning the
OCI Scheme are available in the MHA's website: www.mha.nic.in.
An on-line OCI miscellaneous service is now available for
issuance of duplicate OCI documents, in case of issuance of new passports,
change of personal particulars, such as nationality, name, change of
address/occupation etc. and loss/damage of OCI registration certificate/visa.
(viii) Tracing the Roots
The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs is running a scheme
since October 2008 known as "Tracing the Roots" to facilitate PIOs in
tracing their roots in India. PIOs who intend to trace their roots in India
need to apply in a prescribed Form, through the Indian Mission/Post in the
country of their residence. Application Form for this purpose is available on
the website. Persons of Indian origin desirous of tracing their roots in India
would be required to fill up the prescribed application form and deposit it
with the concerned Indian Mission/Post located in the country of their
residence along with a fee of Rs.30,000 (Rupees Thirty Thousand only) in
equivalent US $, Euro or any other foreign currency acceptable to the Indian
Mission/Post. The traced details of roots in India, i.e. name of close
surviving relative(s); place of origin of their forefathers (paternal and
maternal side); and a possible family tree, are made available to the
applicant.
In case the attempt is not successful, the Indian Mission
is authorized to refund Rs.20, 000(Rupees Twenty Thousand only) to the
applicant. For further details/information regarding the Scheme, the nearest
Indian Embassy/High Commission/Consulate General may be contacted.
(ix)
Scheme for Legal/Financial Assistance to Indian Women Deserted / Divorced by
their NRI Husbands
Issues related with desertion of Indian
women by their overseas spouses are complex and sensitive. They also fall
within the purview of private international law. The approach of the Ministry
in addressing these issues is to create awareness amongst prospective brides
and their families regarding their rights and responsibilities and the
safeguards to be adopted while entering into matrimonial alliances with grooms
residing overseas.
The Ministry has taken various proactive
steps in this direction during the year 2011-12. Scheme of providing
legal/financial assistance to Indian women deserted by their overseas spouses,
launched by the Ministry in 2007, has been revised with effect from 30th
November, 2011 and its scope has been widened to include marriages solemnized
in India or overseas, with an Indian or foreigner husband. Besides, the quantum
of assistance under the scheme has been almost doubled. The scope of the scheme
has also been liberalized to cover
certain categories of Indian women
married to overseas husbands who had not been included earlier. The objective
of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to needy women in distress due
to being deserted/divorced by their overseas spouses, for getting access to counseling
and legal services. The counseling and legal services are provided through
credible Indian Women’s Organisations/Indian Community Associations and NGOs
empanelled with the Indian Missions/Posts abroad in the countries like USA, UK,
Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore (included in 2013-14) and
the Gulf countries.
Twenty seven (27) NGOs have been
empanelled by the Indian Missions/Posts abroad to provide the assistance. A sum
of nearly Rs.1.34 crore has been disbursed by the Indian Missions/Posts to the
NGOs overseas and 136 Indian women have been assisted.
As part of awareness campaign to
appreciate legal, social and related issues in the context of marriages falling
in cross-country jurisdiction, a Seminar was organized in Bengaluru in
December,2013 which was attended by the officers of the Government of Andhra
Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry, Maharashtra, Lawyers,
Researchers and some NGOs.
The Ministry plans its engagement with
Overseas Indians through the aforementioned schemes. Indian Missions/ Posts
abroad also engage proactively with the Overseas Indian Community and provide
necessary assistance from time to time.
This information was given by Minister of State Overseas
Indian Affairs General (Retd.) V.K. Singh in Rajya Sabha today.
YSK/ Uma