GOPIO Delegation Meets Prime Minister Vajpayee, Submits Memorandum
An international delegation of the global Organization of
People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) attending the Third Global Indian Entrepreneurs
Conference in New York called on Prime Vajpayee in New York on Sept. 13th The
delegation was headed by GOPIO President Dr. Thomas Abraham. Other members of
the delegation included Inder Singh, Dr. Jagat Motwani, Ashook Ramsaran,
Chander Khurana, Dr. Sushila Gidwani-Buschi, Jaswant Modi, Sudha Acharya, Niraj
Baxi, Yesu Persaud, Dwarkesh Shah, Ramesh Kalicharan, Bhanu Dwarika. GOPIO
submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Vajpayee. Indian Ambassador to the US,
Lalit Mansingh and Ambassador-at-Large Bhishma Agnihotri were also present at
the meeting held at PM's suite in New York Palace Hotel in Manhattan.
With several millions of the new generation of people of Indian origin
(PIO) born and brought up all over the world, Govt. of India should continue to
evaluate India’s cultural ties with its children outside India. We compliment
your administration for excellent work
by the High Level Diaspora Committee and GOI’s plan to organize Pravasi
Bharatiya Divas. The work of Indian Council of Cultural Relations should be
expanded especially to reach out PIOs in the developing countries. The govt.,
semi-government and private agencies should also promote more travel of PIO
children and youth to India.
GOPIO fully supports the
recommendation of the High Level Diaspora Committee to allow dual-citizen
status to NRIs and PIOs so as to promote business, culture, education and
investment in India is lauded by GOPIO and all sponsoring organizations. We
urge GOI to legislate the dual nationality status as recommended by the High
Level Diaspora Committee.
Many
Indian establishments such as hotels and tourist attractions are charging
outrageous price from PIOs who are currently non-Indian citizens. This brings
bad impressions and feelings amongst NRIs and PIOs. Steps should be taken to
mitigate this problem.
With the
opening of the economy, Indian professionals have started practising in adopted
countries as well as in India. However, those who have taken citizenship
outside India find it difficult to regain their professional license. These
issues should be sorted out with all the licensing boards. GOPIO recommends
that those NRIs and PIOs who acquire PIO card should be treated in the same
level as Indian citizens for licensing matters.
RAJYA
SABHA SEATS FOR NRIs
WHEREAS, people of Indian origin
represent a tremendous resource in intellectual, technical, scientific,
professional, trade, and entrepreneurial skills with high potential and
keenness to contribute to the well-being and prosperity of their Motherland,
GOPIO URGES the Indian cabinet to
appoint a few prominent members of NRIs who are Indian citizens as Rajya Sabha
members so as to reinforce the bonds between India and the PIOs.
MEMORANDUM 6
VOTING
RIGHTS FOR INDIAN CITIZENS LIVING OUTSIDE INDIA
WEREAS, about 30% of the PIOs and
NRIs living outside India are still citizens of India,
WHEREAS, most of the countries provide opportunities
for their citizens living outside their countries to participate in the
election process of their countries,
WHEREAS, India is yet to
establish a mechanism to provide such as opportunity its citizens numbering
about 6 million,
GOPIO URGES Government of India
to initiate the process of providing voting rights, through a constitutional
amendment, to Indian citizens living outside India.
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