GOPIO NEWS BULLETIN
August 2005
OTE: This is a monthly newsletter of GOPIO International,
based in the
Also, starting this issue,
we have a veteran journalist P.N.A. Tharakan from New Delhi who has
volunteered to contribute a column NEWS ROUND-UP
FROM NEW DELHI
CONTENTS
Ø
GOPIO
CONFERENCE OF WESTERN HEMISPHERE ONLY TWO MORE WEEKS LEFT FOR THE CONFERENCE IN
o
FOURTH PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS TO BE HELD IN
o
WHY
o
TENTATIVE PROGRAM
o
A RARE EXOSURE FOR THE SOUTHERN STATES
o
WORLD-CLASS CONVENTION CENTER
o
NO DECISION YET ON INDUSTRY/BUSIENSS PARTNER
o
ACHIEVEMENTS IN
ONE YEAR
o
DUAL CITIZENSHIP
o
VOTING RIGHTS FOR OVERSEAS INDIANS HOLDING INDIAN
PASSPORTS BEING CONSIDERED
o
NAVIN RAMGULAM IS NEW PRIME MINISTER OF
o
RAMDIN SARDJOE ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT OF
o
INDIAN AMERICAN KETAN GANDHI APPOINTED
PRESIDENT OF HOME NEWS TRIBUNE
o
INDO-CANADIAN WALLY
OPPAL APPOINTED BC ATTORNEY GENERAL
Ø
NEWS
OF INTEREST TO NRIs AND PIOs AROUND THE WORLD
o
NEW LABOR DESTINATIONS
o
INDIAN PROFESSIONALS GOING TO
o
FALL IN PRIVATE REMITTANCES
o
NRIs LEAD HIGH NETWORTH
INDIVIDUALS IN UAE
o
INDIAN AYURVEDIC DRUGS BANNED IN
o
DEPOSIT SCHEMES NO LONGER ATTRACTIVE TO NRIs
o
SIMPLER PROCEDURE FOR STUDENT VISA
o
NRI HUSBANDS EXPLOIT LEGAL LOOPHOLES TO OBTAIN
DIVORSE
GOPIO
CONFERENCE OF WESTERN HEMISPHERE - ONLY TWO MORE WEEKS LEFT FOR THE CONFERENCE
IN
The
GOPIO Suriname, a chapter of GOPIO International based in the
The
conference will formally launch on August 21 in
The
Government of Suriname is fully supporting the conference. The Hon President of
As
the conference theme indicates, the primary purpose is to promote peace, development
and integration on a global level through active linkages in culture and
commercial enterprises throughout the Indian Diaspora. The conference is the
first of its kind in the Caribbean Region and will focus on crucial aspects of
people of Indian origin (PIOs) who live and conduct
businesses in multi-ethnic societies as in the
The
two-day conference will be preceded by GOPIO International mid-year global
meetings on GOPIOs accomplishments, current
activities, plans and schedules. The conference package includes evenings of dinner
accompanied by full cultural presentations by local and (international)
performers. The conference will be conducted in English.
The PIO leaders and the
volunteers have been working diligently to deliver an event unlike any in the
recent past. We encourage community activists all over the globe to attend the
conference and also learn first hand how our brethren faced hardships in
settling in a foreign land under harsh conditions with a strange language,
stranger customs, culture and traditions, and still preserved their own
religion, customs and cultural traditions. Those people who
have particular interest in the Indian diaspora won't want to miss learning how these hard working
children of Bharat Mata,
coming as indentured labor, have in just three generations, learnt to live and
conduct businesses in multi-ethnic societies and have climbed the economic and
political power ladders and gained educational attainments, said Harold Ramdhani, organizer of the conference.
The GOPIO team has
dedicated their time, energy and financial resources to plan the program that
features some really unique dynamics. The organizers have planned various
sessions in such a way that the subject matters are explored and deliberated in
meaningful and productive discussions, with notable speakers of relevant
expertise. It's not that you need convincing from us, but we think that you
should come, meet and interact with dignitaries and delegates some of whom
could be very inspiring and their success worth emulating. Everybody at every
level needs their belief bucket filled. This conference is absolutely going to
be the key for giving you some momentum, said Inder Singh, President of GOPIO
International.
Networking with delegates
from other countries could be a beneficial experience worth treasuring. Some
delegates with passion, posture, conviction and enthusiasm will be looking for
people like you to establish contacts, and even discuss growth of their
businesses. If there is one thing you come away from this conference with, it's
the personal satisfaction that the new contact or new knowledge could help you
achieve your desired goal and give you more of an opportunity for the dreams
you have set for yourself.
Please act promptly and
register for the conference right now by sending an email to Harold Ramdhani at HAROLD.R.RAMDHANI@ramsholding.sr, or by telephone at 597-856-3063
or Ashook Ramsaran at 718-353-1900 or by email at Ramsaran@aol.com.
Following the
We look forward with
enthusiasm to your attendance and participation at this conference where we
have made every effort for your trip and stay a truly productive and memorable
one, said Harold Ramdhani, Secretary of GOPIO
Suriname and Conference Program Coordinator. We encourage you to visit and
enjoy the warmth of our hospitality and tropical climate as you participate in
the conference, Ramdhoni added.
CONFERENCE PROGRAM AGENDA
SUNDAY/MONDAY, AUGUST 21/22 Arrivals of International and Regional Delegates
MONDAY, AUGUST 22
08.00 09.00
BREAKFAST
09.00 10.30 OFFICIALS VISITS BY GOPIO
DIGNITORIES TO PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, SPEAKER and INDIAN AMBASSADOR
10. 30 12.30
MORNING SESSION GOPIO INTL MID YEAR MEETING
12.30 14.00 LUNCH
14.00 16.30 AFTERNOON
SESSION - GOPIO
REGIONAL AND COUNTRY REPORTS
19.00 19.05 WELCOME
19.05 19.20 FLAG PRESENTATION OF
PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES
19.20 19.30 ADDRESS BY K. NANDOE, PRESIDENT OF GOPIO
19.30 19.40 ADDRESS BY INDER SINGH, PRESIDENT OF GOPIO INTL
19.40 19.55 ADDRESS BY HON. JAGDISH TYTLER, MINISTER OF
OVERSEAS INDIANS
AFFAIRS,
19.55 - 20.10 ADDRESS
BY H.E. BHARRAT JAGDEO, PRESIDENT REPUBLIC OF GUYANA
(To be confirmed)
20.10 21.30 ADRESS AND OFFICIAL OPENING
BY H.E. R.R. VENETIAAN
PRESIDENT
OF
21.30 23.00 RECEPTION/DINNER AND CULTURAL SHOW
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23
08.00 09.00 BREAKFAST
09.00 09.15 WELCOME AND REMARKS BY DAYS
CHAIRMAN
09.15 10.00 KEYNOTE ADDRESS by HON.
JAGDISH TYTLER
SUBJECT: THE PLACE, PURPOSE AND POSITION OF THE INDIAN
DIASPORA
IN TODAYS GLOBALISING WORLD
10.00
10.15 PANEL DISCUSSION
10.15 10.45
QUESTIONS/REMARKS
10:45 11.00 FIRST PLENARY SESSION
SPEAKER:
MRS. NIRMALA RAMBOCUS, MEMBER OF DUTCH PARLIAMENT
SUBJECT
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE INDIAN DIASPORA AND THE EUROPEAN
11.00
11.45 PANEL DISCUSSION
11.45 12.00
QUESTIONS/REMARKS
12.15 13.45 L U
N C H
14.00 14.30
SECOND PLENARY SESSION
SPEAKER:
SUBJECT:
THE INDIAN DIASPORA IN
14.30
14.45 PANEL DISCUSSION
14.45 15.00
QUESTIONS/REMARKS
15.15
15.45 THIRD PLENARY SESSION
SPEAKER:
PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS AND DIRECTOR OF METHODIST
SUBJECT:
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN THE INDIAN DIASPORA WITH EMPHASIS ON WESTERN HEMISPHERE
15.45
16.00 PANEL DISCUSSION
16.00 16.15 QUESTIONS/REMARKS
16.30 17.15
REFLECTIONS OF THE DAYS PRESENTATIONS
20.00 2200 DINER AND CULTURAL SHOW
WEDNESDAY,
AUGUST 24
08.00 09.00 BREAKFAST
09.00 09.15
CALL TO ORDER and REMARKS by DAYS CHAIRMAN
09.15 09.45 FOURTH
PLENARY SESSION
SPEAKER: Dr. E. JHARAP,
SUBJECT:
THE PLACE AND POSITION OF
DEVELOPING WORLD
OF ENERGY LINKED TO THE INDIAN DIASPORA
09.45 10.00 PANEL
DISCUSSION
10.00 10.15 QUESTIONS/REMARKS
10.30 11.00 FIFTH PLENARY
SESSION
SPEAKER: Dr.
BRINSLEY SOMAROO, UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES,
SUBJECT: THE INDIAN DIASPORA in the
WESTERN HEMISPHERE
11.00 11.15
PANEL/DISCUSSION
11.15 11.30 QUESTIONS/REMARKS
11.45 12.15 SIXTH
PLENARY SESSION
SPEAKER Dr. KRISHNA KHARGI, CHIEF HEARTH SURGEON,
12.15 12.30 PANEL
DISCUSSION
12.30 12.45 QUESTIONS/REMARKS
13.00 14.30 L U N C H
14.30 15.00 REFLECTIONS OF THE DAYS
PRESENTATIONS
15.00 15.45 RESOLUTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
15.45 16.15 CLOSING ADDRESS BY HON VICE PRESIDENT OF
19.30 22.00 FARE WELL
DINER AND CULTURAL
SHOW
19.39 19.45 CLOSING REMARKS AND THANK YOU
BY
THE CONVENER OF THE CONFERENCE
REGISTRATION & ACCOMMODATION
Registration fee (US$150) can be paid only by Cash or
Bank Draft in name of:
ORGANIZING
COMMITTEE - GOPIO CONFERENCE
Registration fee includes: 12 Meals/Transportation
from/to Airport and to/from all venues/Conference kit/coffee/tea breaks during
conference sessions/Non-alcoholic drinks during sessions/conference facilities.
Send completed Forms and Payments to:
HAROLD R.RAMDHANI
Secretary, GOPIO
30 NEUMANPAD
Tel: +597-856-3063
FAX +597 472411
E-mail HAROLD R. RAMDHANI@ramsholding.sr
May also contact GOPIO Secretary General
Ashook Ramsaran in the
NRIs CAN BE A
HIGHWAY FOR INDIAs SUCCESS
"It is your
creativity, your knowledge, your enterpreneurship and work ethics that has helped to greatly transform
the image of
"I expect you to do
more for the development of
GOPIO
CHAPTER OF S.E.
The GOPIO International has
widened its base in
The event went ahead as per
schedule, despite the disruptions caused to the transport network in
The conceptual foundation
of GOPIO Kent and Essex Chapter was in fact laid in
Stefan Kosciuesko, Chief Executive Asia House, which is the
Secretariat of the Indo-British Partnership (UK Govt) gave a presentation on the trade relations
between
The meeting unanimously
elected Raj Lakha as the President of the organization. Raj had
already made a vigorous campaign, which led to this inaugural function. Vaibhav Shukla, of ALMT Legal, the Indian Advocates in
The Chapter has already
planned to organize a series of events which include a meeting on Banking, Tax
Planning & Venture Finance: A Guide for PIOs in
The Conference on EU-India
Strategic Plan: Enhancing Trade and Investment to be held in
Conference will address the
need for
The conference objective is
to build better relationship by exploring these dimensions through discussion
and exchange of ideas among high profile business leaders and policy makers in
Europe and
Below is the Tentative
Program of the Conference:
EICC-CBC-GOPIO Conference Programme
(Tentative, subjected
to change)
EU-India Strategic Plan: Enhancing Trade
and Investment
Wednesday, November 9th, 2005
Venue: European Parliament
rue Wiertz Wiertzstraat, B-1047 BRUSSELS
08:30 09:30
Pick-up Registration and Cofffee/Tea
Ambassador
of
09:50
10:10 ADDRESS BY CHIEF GUEST Mr. Kapil Sibal, Minister for Science and Technology, Government of
10:10
-10:30 KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY Dr. Sam Pitroda, Chairman and CEO World-Tel Ltd.
10:50 11:00 Greetings
from GOPIO International Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman and Inder Singh, President
11.00 11.10 Concluding
Remarks -
SESSION 1
Chair: Lord Dr. Diljit S Rana MBE
Mr. Arun Sarin, CEO, Vodafone,
Dr. Ajit Shetty, Chairman,
Mr. B. Ramlinga Raju, Chairman, Satyam Computers,
Mr.
Discussion
Seated/Buffet WELCOME BY
MR. SANJAY DALMIA AND MR. NIRJ DEVA MEP
(Lunch
hosted by Dalmia Group,
SESSION 2
Chair: Mr. Arun Sarin, Chairman, Vodafone
Consumer
electronics Mr. Jan Boll, Sr.
Vice President, Philips (t.b.c.)
Bio-tech
Industry Prof. Dr.
Automobile
Sector Mr. Thierry Moulonguet, Joint DG, RENAULT
Export and
Infrastructure Sector - Mr.
R. Veeramani, President Indo-
Discussion
Discussion
Chair: Mr. Bogdan Golik, MEP
Foreign Direct
Investment in
10 Good reasons why
European business leaders should work with
Financial Sector and
Asset Management Mr. Ravi Shankar, Managing Director, EPIC Asset Group,
EU-India Economic
Co-operation and role of Corporate and Business in Bridging the Gap - Mr. Michel Sabatier, Secretary General, Euro-India Centre
Banking Industry - Mr. Rutger Koopmans, Director, ING Bank & Chairman,
Discussion
NEWS
ROUND-UP FROM
By P.N.A. Tharakan,
The 22 million Overseas
Indians, covering both the NRIs and PIOs, and spread over 110 countries, have something to
smile about! The newly created Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) is
living up to its promises. One by one and at a fast pace even as the full
compliment of officials are yet to be in place at the swanky and plush carpeted
new office at Akbar Bhavan in Chanakyapuri, home for all the foreign diplomatic missions. Akbar Bhavan, earlier a government owned five star hotel, and now used as part of the
Ministry of External Affairs is close to the Hotel Ashoka, Prime ministers House with the South Block and
North Block, Prime ministers office and the office Finance Ministry not far
away.
FOURTH
PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS TO BE HELD IN
The single biggest
achievement of this nascent Ministry is its decision to hold, without a break,
the fourth annual jamboree of Overseas Indians called Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in January 2006.
WHY
According to Minister Tytler,
Better connectivity has
also been cited as one of the main reasons for choosing
While the last PBD at
Mumbai was an opportunity for the Government of India and the industry
represented by FICCI as a partner, to strengthen the inter-action between
Overseas Indians and India, the Hyderabad session in 2006 will give an ideal
and effective forum to take stock of the situation and make all concerned
accountable. The New Ministry, gaining importance and acceptance in all
corridors right from the PMO, is apparently gearing up itself to give its own
balance sheet of the promises and actions for one year.
Already, the new Ministry
has wrapped up its annual report for 2004-2005, quite a feat considering the
logistical and infra-structural bottlenecks in putting together altogether a
Ministry. This is particularly when nothing on overseas Indians could be
decided without the MEA coming into the picture. This is an umbilical chord,
which cannot be cut so easily and early. Symbolically, even the office of the
Joint Secretary in charge of Overseas Indians, who co-ordinates issues involved
in the PBDs, is
located neither in the MEA nor at MOIA. It is near a Supreme Court building. Why not Akbar Bhavan will be a plain
question that any visitor, particularly an OI will tend to ask.
Answers to this innocent question will determine the future of the Ministry,
which at present, is being geared up by a high profile minister, who has access
to the PMO to move things and settle issues pending for long.
The annual report, though
thin in a mere 27 pages, reflects the determination of the young ministry to
project itself as the single-point service provider for the Indian Diaspora.
The team of officials-- a secretary, two joint secretaries (one from MEA and
the other from the Labor Ministry as the Protectorate General), Officer on
Special Duty, Personal Secretary to the Minister, and a deputy secretary with
temporary outsourced hands are struggling to cope with the enormous load of
work ahead. Three joint secretaries are to be in place along with a full
compliment of other supporting staff on deputation soon.
Already, delegations and
individual NRI or PIO visiting the capital drop by and the Minister has kept
himself open for overseas visitors. A
website and for up to date information on developments of interest to OIs is under making. MOIA is ideally poised to be the
most happening place in the capital soon, depending on the suggestions, tasks,
and feedback that OI organizations and NRIs and PIOs individually can come up. The agenda is yet to be
drawn up.
TENTATIVE PROGRAM
Cultural evening by
Diaspora youth groups on January 6 evening will mark the curtain raiser for the
three day session that will be inaugurated next day morning by the prime
minister as in earlier meets. The President of India will confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards on the concluding day on 9th at
the valedictory session followed by a grand finale- of Cultural Evening and
Light and Sound Show. On the inauguration day on 7th itself, Minister Jagdish Tytler, MOIA will engage the delegates, with the next day
devoted for presentations by a few state governments and a working session on
investment, education, health-care, rural development and other selected areas.
A RARE EXOSURE FOR THE SOUTHERN STATES
WORLD-CLASS CONVENTION CERNTER
The inaugural session will
be held at the world class
NO DECISION
YET ON INDUSTRY/BUSIENSS PARTNER
There is silence on who is
likely to be the partner for the
ACHIEVEMENTS
IN ONE YEAR
The single biggest
achievement since the Ministry was formed is how it has defined the Diaspora
itself. Overseas Indians, covering both the NRIs and PIOs has come to stay in the official and common
parlance. Opportunities for the OIs for involvement in their home country in various
priority fields have been identified, besides a special attention paid for the
welfare of emigrant Indian workers with an integrated Smart card under
preparation
DUAL
CITIZENSHIP
The Ministry has carried
out the Prime Ministers announcement at the 2005 PBD that the dual citizenship
facility would be thrown open to PIOs of all those countries, which allow dual citizenship
(except Bangaldesh
and
Procedure for registration
of overseas citizenship with simplified application forms have also been
initiated by the MHA. All details pertaining to the dual citizenship are being
processed and put on the MHA webswww.mha.nic.in
MOIA has this co-ordination
with the MHA on the one hand and MEA on the other hand to deal with the
Missions abroad.
VOTING RIGHTS FOR OVERSEAS INDIANS HOLDING
INDIAN PASSPORTS BEING CONSIDERED
The Government of
India is considering a proposal to allow overseas
Indians holding Indian passports to vote in the elections in the country,
Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Jagdish Tytler told the Rajya Sabha on July 29,
while intervening in a discussion on the Citizenship
(Amendment) Bill which was later unanimously passed by the House.
Those who are holding Indian passports, if they were present in the
country at the time of elections, are being considered for voting. But
this is subject to clearance
by the Election Commission. "We are very seriously considering the
proposal made by political leaders from Kerala in this regard," Tytler added.
The Bill, which replaces an
ordinance issued on June 12, provides for dual citizenship for People of Indian
Origin and Non-Resident Indians from 16 countries excluding
Winding up the discussion,
Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal said laws in 71 countries allowed dual citizenship
and the government would gradually extend this facility to overseas citizens of
NRIs/PIOs ACHIEVE
NAVIN
RAMGULAM IS NEW PRIME MINISTER OF
Navin Ramgoolam was officially installed as
Announced by the National
Election Board of this Country with 1.2 million population, which was discovered just over 4
centuries ago tobe ruled by three different European powers in
succession, populated by indentured laborers brought over from
Ramgoolam, 58, has reoccupied the premier's seat after loss in
2000 election to French-speaking Paul Berenger. Two-thirds of the Island (70%) population in
Eight seats in the
70-member National Assembly will be nominated by the Electoral Board under the
so-called "best losers" system, which rewards high placed also-rans. Ramgoolam's father, Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, who was the isle's first president from
independence in 1968, lost the seat to Sir Aneerod Jagnauth, the current president, in the country's 1982
elections. The shift of power in
RAMDIN
SARDJOE ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT OF
At the recently conducted
election, Ramdin Sarjoe was elected Vice President of Republic of Suriname,
a South American country which has a large Indian population (17%). Sarjoe previously served as the speaker of the Suriname
Parliament.
INDIAN AMERICAN KETAN GANDHI APPOINTED
PRESIDENT OF HOME NEWS TRIBUNE
Indian American Ketan N Gandhi has been appointed
president of Home News Tribune, a newspaper based at East Brunswick in
Ketan has a degree in accounting from
INDO-CANADIAN WALLY
OPPAL APPOINTED BC ATTORNEY GENERAL
Wally Oppal has been appointed Attorney General of British Columbia, the second
Indo-Canadian to hold that high level position. He will also be the Minister
for Multiculturalism. Ujjal Dosanjh, the current Federal Health
Minister and former Premier of
Wally Oppal was the first Canadian-born Indian
to hold the position of judge at the Supreme Court. He was born in 1940 in the
Vancouver-Fraserview neighborhood from where he was
elected in May as a Liberal Party representative.
NEWS
OF INTEREST TO NRIs/PIOs AROUND THE WORLD
NEW LABOR
DESTINATIONS
The total labor outflow
from
INDIAN
PROFESSIONALS GOING TO
Indian professionals are
discovering that
FALL IN PRIVATE REMITTANCES
The year 2004-2005 showed
significant fall in Private Remittances by Overseas Indians after a sharp rise
in the flow in the previous year. After an all-time high of $18,885 millions Rs 86,764) in 2003-2004, the remittances have come down
to $14,494 millions (Rs 66,861) in 2004-05. This is till December 31, 2004
with three more months left for the year closing, according to the annual
report 2004-05 of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA).
The trend for remittances
was stable around $12,000 millions (say Rs 50,000 crores) for three financial years from the year 1999-2000
until it suddenly shot up to $14,807 millions (Rs 71,642 crores) in the year 2002-03. It shot up to the all time
high in 2003-04 with figures still awaited for the year just closed.
LAKSHMI MITTAL CONTRIBUTES 2 MILLION POUNDS TO LABOR PARTY
British Indian Steel tycoon
Lakshmi Mittal has donated two million pounds to the Labor party,
matching the amount given by Lord Sainsbury, the science minister.
Mittal, chairman of the world's largest steel producer, Mittal Steel Company has operations in 14 countries in
different continents. Forbes magazine rates Mittal as the 54th richest man in the world, with an
estimated net worth of 14 billion pounds.
NRIs LEAD HIGH NETWORTH INDIVIDUALS IN UAE
NRIs in UAE account for some 65 per cent of the high net
worth category of individuals. According to the 2005 World Wealth Report of
Merrill Lynch, the number of millionaires in the UAE has gone up from 47,000 in
2003 to 52,800 in 2004. UAE has a higher density of
millionaires than the
INDIAN
AYURVEDIC DRUGS BANNED IN
The Canadian Health Department has issued warning against
the use of certain Ayurvedic products because
they contain high levels of lead, mercury and/or arsenic. Health Canada Canada
For more information,
please visit Canada Health department website:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/protection/warnings/2005/2005_80.html
DEPOSIT
SCHEMES NO LONGER ATTRACTIVE TO NRIs
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has made NRI deposit schemes
unattractive due to soaring foreign exchange reserves. As a result, the
non-resident Indians have withdrawn $1.067 billion during 2004-05 as compared
to an inflow of $3.642 billion in the previous fiscal year and the pull out
continues at an accelerated rate due to availability of higher rates of
earnings elsewhere.
Lord Swraj Pauls Caparo Group signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the Punjab Technical University (PTU) for the
establishment of a school for manufacturing and material technology in Jalandhar. The university would provide land
and Rs. one crore while Swaraj Paul will contribute Rs 5 crores, as a gift to his place of birth.
The school
will impart advanced research and education facilities and the classes are
expected to start from the academic year 2006.
SIMPLER
PROCEDURE FOR STUDENT VISA
Minister of State for External
Affairs E. Ahamed told
the Lok Sabha that
A foreign
student going for studies in
NRI HUSBANDS
EXPLOIT LEGAL LOOPHOLES TO OBTAIN DIVORSE
A public interest
litigation (PIL) has been initiated in the Kolkata High Court to bring to justice NRI
men who exploit legal loopholes to obtain ex-parte divorce decrees from foreign courts against their
wives living in
GOPIO, LIFE MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER FORMATION
GOPIO is a non-partisan,
non-sectarian global organization with chapters in several countries, actively
promoting the interests of people of Indian origin worldwide by monitoring and
addressing current critical issues of concern, and by enhancing cooperation and
communication between groups of Indians living in various countries.
GOPIO Individual Life
membership is open to all who believe in the mission of GOPIO. The one time fee
is $1,000 for those from developed countries and $500 for those from developing
countries or Rs. 25,000 for those from
GOPIO is looking forward to
opening chapters in all major cities of the world so as to network people of
Indian origin all over the world. If you do not have chapter in your city,
please visit GOPIO website (www.gopio.net)
and get details of chapter initiation (visit http://www.gopio.net/chapter_initiative.htm).
Process involves sending a letter of intent to start a chapter by a committee
of five people or more. For more information, contact:
GOPIO President Inder
Singh,
GOPIO Secretary General
Ashook Ramsaran, Fresh Meadows,
To become a Life member of
GOPIO, visit http://www.gopio.net/membership_form.htm, print and fill up
the form and send it with a check to: GOPIO,
EDITORIAL
BOARD
Chief Editor: Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman, GOPIO (
Webmaster: Prashant Gupta (
Contributors for
this issue: Inder Singh (USA), Sunil Prasad (
GOPIO NEWS welcomes NRI/PIO
related stories from all over the world. Be a volunteer correspondent or
reporter. Contact Dr. Thomas Abraham, Tel: 203-329-8010, E-mail: gopio@optonline.net
V isit GOPIOs Official site at www.gopio.net
or www.gopio.com
