The Hindu Business Line : Impressive numbers

The Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, Mr Vayalar Ravi, who addressed the first Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to be held outside India – in New York – reeled off a series of statistics to “salute the enterprise and success of Indian American community”. The mediam income of an Indian-American family is around $67,000. There are two lakh Indian-American millionaires; 18 per cent of the Silicon Valley start up companies are owned by Indian-Americans; 60 per cent above 25 years have a college degree; 45 per cent in the work force are employed as professionals; 42,000 Indian /American physicians. The Indian ambassador to the US, Mr Ronen Sen, added his bit: Apart from playing a very important role in the health care delivery system of the US , Indian-Americans formed the backbone of the hospitality industry in the country. “They not only form a major brain bank in the US, one third of the hotel properties here are owned by Indian-Americans. But in one areas their contribution is the lowest – that in the crime rate.”

Kamal Nath on his breakfast

New York, Sept 24

The Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Kamal Nath, was in an exuberant mood at the PBS meet in New York, as he talked about the growth of a “vibrant, confident and credible India”. Waxing eloquent on the coming of age of Indian technology which had moved from the BPO to the KPO stage, he said, “This morning at my hotel I ordered breakfast at 8 a.m. , but it didn’t arrive till 9.30 a.m.” When he called to find out what had happened, ̶ 0; I was told: Sir, our computer is down, so you will have to wait for another 40 minutes. So I told them why don’t you outsource your room service to India?”

Counterfeit Rolex watches

New York, Sept 24

Mr Kamal Nath also told the conference that very often he was asked questions comparing India with China; “China is doing this and China is doing that.” Such comparisons between countries were neither necessary nor worked, he said. While the Chinese growth was fuelled on the back of export of manufactured goods, that of India was on the wings of technology and a domestic market that was vibrant and growing. Also, India had laws that worked. “There are mor e counterfeit Rolex watches in the city of New York than you will find in India or another Asian country that I will not name!”

Dilbert, Archie get Indian characters

New York, Sept 24

Complimenting the Indian diaspora in the US of making a huge impact in the Aemrican community, the Overseas Indian Affairs Minister, Mr Vayalar Ravi, said, “I was delighted to hear that ‘Dilbert’, the popular comic strip has introduced a bright young IIT alumnus named Ashok and more recently Raj Patel, the Indian-American teenager has made a grand entry in the Archies comics. You have captured the popular imagination of America.” The CII President, Mr Sunil Mittal, urged the Indian-American community to engaged through “serious investment” in India. Its present $1-trillion economy was expected to grow to $35-trillion before 2040, placing 35 times more income in the hands of Indians. Such a market could not be ingnored.

— Rasheeda Bhagat