Bengaluru: Expressing his dissatisfaction over the functioning of NRI community organisations, Gen. (retd) V.K. Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs, pleaded with these organistations to work on a single path.
Chairing a session on “Diaspora Organisations: Bridging Distances, Unlocking Opportunities” on the third and final day of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on Monday, he said, “All these organisations have been set up for the welfare of the Indian diaspora. But I feel that some organisations are not working effectively, and are trying to solve issues by raising them with local governments on their own. All community organisations should combine their efforts.”
Pointing out that there are over 5,000 organisations abroad, he said, “They should work towards solving the problems of the Indian diaspora and ensure better relations with their mother country.”
Replying to a question by a delegate on bringing all organisations under one umbrella, he said the government is working towards that. Quoting the case of natural death of an Indian worker abroad, he said, “The worker had died of natural causes, but some hundred workers protested against the employer. As the laws in that particular country were very strict, all those who protested were jailed. If the workers are not sensitised on the political behaviour of the countries they head to, they may get stuck in such situations. Victims’ families asked us to interfere, but we could not. This is where we need the help of community organisations who can work in tandem with the government for the welfare of the Indian diaspora.”
Diaspora for changes in NRI policy
The Indian diaspora from Qatar, represented by Mr H.K. Madhu, Karnataka Sangha Qatar, submitted a memorandum to the Karnataka government, seeking some changes in the NRI policy for Kannadigas which the state government released last week.
“In the latest NRI policy released by the Karnataka government, we feel the interests of those who head out as housemaids and labouters are left out. They should also be provided an opportunity to raise their concerns and get them resolved,” said Mr Madhu.
“Flights operated from Qatar to Bengaluru are very expensive, and we sought the government to look into running flights under Air India,” he said. The Indian diaspora from Qatar invited Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Large and Medium Scale Industries Minister R.V. Deshpande to Qatar and brief six lakh Indians living there, on the investment opportunities and policies offered by Karnataka, he said.
