Visit Indian Travel Sites
Goa,
Kerala,
Tamil Nadu,
Andhra Pradesh,
Delhi,
Rajasthan,
Uttar Pradesh,
Himachal Pradesh,
Assam,
Sikkim,
Madhya Pradesh,
Jammu & Kashmir
Karnataka
|
President Patil calls for greater participatory role of NRIs in India's development | President Pratibha Patil on Saturday asked the non-resident Indians spread across the world to come
forward and play a greater participatory role for India's development. Speaking at the valedictory function of the 8th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention and
conferment of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards, President Pratibha Patil said:
"As we turn the corner of the first decade of the 21st Century, it is in fact,
becoming more and more evident that we live in an increasingly inter-connected
world. Such a world requires that each one of you must play the responsible role
of a global citizen." "There is immense capacity that you have both in talent
and in financial terms, that can be invested in India. We hope to see your greater
participation in the coming years in the development of India. Of course, India's
remittances from overseas Indians, estimated at over 50 billion dollars last year,
were the highest in the world," President Patil added. "What is less known, though,
is the fact that nearly 40 percent of these remittances -- about 20 billion dollars
annually--come from overseas Indian workers in the Gulf consisting of temporary
contractual skilled and semi-skilled workers. They often face harsh living and
working conditions and are separated from their families for long periods of time.
I take this opportunity to salute Indian workers in the Gulf," Patil further added.
Patil said NRIs' knowledge and expertise could be significant in India's march
to become a developed country. "Overseas Indians estimated at over 25 million
and spread across the world, have come to be recognized as the 'Knowledge
Diaspora'.
The knowledge, expertise, skills and resources of this vast and diverse Indian
community can be an important input in India's march to becoming a developed
country,"
Patil stated. President said that in the social infrastructure sector as also
physical infrastructure development, India is looking at investment increasingly
in the public-private partnership model. "Our infrastructure financing needs are
estimated to be over 500 billion US dollars in the next five years. We are focusing
on improving the quality and quantity of education at all levels of the education
pyramid. The expenditure on healthcare infrastructure in the country is projected
to grow at 5.8 per cent annually. This presents an unprecedented opportunity,
including for our overseas community to participate and benefit in India's unfolding
growth story," Patil said. President said the Indian growth story is an absorbing,
exciting and a continuing one. "We are a big and a growing market. We have a
strong
capital market regulator and a strong Central Bank. Our banks and financial
institutions
are based on 'best practices' in fiduciary responsibility and are well-regulated.
All this enabled us to cope with one of the worst economic downturns in recent
history, better than many other countries and it has also meant a quicker recovery,"
Patil said while adding that India posted a growth of 6.7 percent in 2008-09.
"We will achieve over 7 percent this year. In the post-crisis world, India is
increasingly perceived as one of the principal engines of growth, a safe destination
for investment and an emerging educational and technological hub." President Patil,
on this occasion, congratulated Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi
and his Ministry, for taking welfare measures for Indians living abroad. "The
Indian Community Welfare Funds established in 18 countries will provide timely
succour to overseas Indians in distress. The bilateral Social Security Agreements
as well as the Labour Welfare and Protection Agreements that have been concluded
will be useful in getting the cooperation of the host governments on issues impacting
the Indian community. Similarly, the Government is strongly taking up concerns
about the protection and security of Indians, particularly students, with Governments
of countries in which they live," Patil said. "Each of you by the dint of hard
work and determination overcame many a difficulty in far away lands, to carve
out a niche for yourself in your chosen fields. We are proud of your achievements,"
said President Patil. "I am confident that with your calibre, creativity and enterprise
you will continue to contribute to the advancement of human civilization, particularly
as your roots lie in this, one of the most ancient civilizations of the world,
in which acquisition of knowledge and universal welfare have been laudable
objectives,"
Patil told the NRI audience. Every year the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated
on January 9 to commemorate the return of Mahatma Gandhi to India on this day
in the year 1915. |
|
|
|
|
|