BENGALURU: Compared to previous Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, this year’s PBD will be outcome-oriented and the outcome is aimed at empowering the Indian diaspora, said Mr Dnyaneshwar Mulay, Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, here on Saturday.
Briefing the media on the first day of PBD, he said, “The whole approach of this year’s PBD is to listen to the queries of the Indian diaspora and address them.”
Pointing out that they won’t follow the wait-and-watch approach in addressing the issues of the diaspora, he said, “Once we listen to their grievances, the ministry of external affairs will take the necessary measures to address them.”
“This is the biggest turnout for the PBD since its inception in 2003. More than the social engagement, economic engagement of the diaspora is needed,” he said.
He sought the support of state governments in battling issues related to Indians abroad, who works as drivers, domestic workers, hotel workers etc.
“State governments should take steps to bust rackets that are involved in human trafficking. Those involved in these rackets send workers abroad blindly and make them targets of ill-treatment and humiliation. To prevent problems for such lower rung workers, the ministry has taken measures like pre-departure orientation and sending them as e-emigrants, so that employers abroad fulfill all their duties towards the labourers,” he said.
On extension of time sought for overseas Indians to exchange demonetised '500 and Rs 1,000 notes, he said, “It has to be formally taken up by the RBI and finance ministry.”
India has it all to be superpower: PIO
“India has all potential to become a super power. With its spiritual and cultural inheritance, it should be on the top,” said Mr Michael Ashwin Adhin, vice-president of the South American country of Suriname here on Saturday.
Delivering his keynote address at the inauguration of the three-day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2017, Mr Adhin observed that India was seen as a 'Vishwa guru' and enjoyed a unique status due to its abundance of knowledge and spiritual and cultural heritage.
Maintaining that the Indian diaspora should be proud of its cultural roots, he urged the youth to work towards minimising monopolies at all levels.
The 36-year-old Suriname leader, whose ancestors hail from India, also said the country should leverage its traditional strengths and come up with nature-friendly technologies to “establish its authority not by force but by means of knowledge and play a more influential role in geopolitics." A stronger India, in his view, was good for the world as it would bring in balance of power and growth.
