Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas. Overseas Indians’ contribution to the economy is invaluable: Modi

The 30 million Indians living overseas represent the best of Indian culture, ethos and values and are respected for their contributions to the societies they live in, and the welfare and safety of all Indians abroad is the government’s “top priority”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Sunday.

He was addressing over 7,000-strong Indian Diaspora at the 14th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.

“They have not only excelled in the fields they had chosen but also stood as role models for immigrants from other countries through their hard work and law-abiding nature,” Modi said.

Annual remittance They have ensured the development of the country of their origin and the annual remittance from overseas Indians stood at over $69 billion, which was an invaluable contribution to the Indian economy, he said.

OCI cards The Prime Minister urged the People of Indian Origin (PIO) cardholders to convert their cards into Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards and added that the government was working to put in place procedures for making descendants of the indentured labour living in South Pacific Ocean countries like Fiji (Girmitiyas) eligible for OCI cards. “I urge PIO card holders to convert their cards into OCI cards. Starting with Mauritius, we are working to put in place procedures so that descendants of Girmitiyas can become eligible for OCI Cards. We remain committed to addressing similar difficulties of PIOs in Fiji, Reunion Islands, Suriname, Guyana and other Caribbean States,” he said.

Modi reiterated the government’s decision to extend the deadline for PIO card conversions to OCI from December 31, 2016 to June 30, 2017 without any penalty and from January 1, the government has set up special counters at immigration counters at airports in New Delhi and Bangalore to facilitate the same.

On brain drain, Modi said his government was taking steps to convert brain drain into brain gain.

Skill development A special skill development programme — ‘Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojna’ — for Indian youth has been planned, Modi said. The new skill development scheme is aimed at Indian youth going overseas to seek employment. The programme is aimed at boosting the confidence of the Indian youth so that they don’t feel like strangers when they land in a country of their choice for vocation. “Irrespective of the vocation they choose, the government will offer them skill development programme.”

“We do not see the colour of the passport. We only see the blood relations,” Modi said.