Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi has promised to shortly introduce the "Overseas Citizen of India card," similar to the US green card for permanent American residents that will envisage Indian Americans to live in India as long as they wish without having to report to anybody.

Speaking at a community dinner reception accorded in his honor in Washington, DC by a coalition of Indian American community, political and cultural organizations, Ravi, said, "I want you all to visit India whenever you want to come and in the best way without having to stand up and queue in the embassy, and I will introduce the Overseas Citizen of India card -- like a green card in America."

"That will be a life-long visa. You can come and stay in India, invest money, whatever you want to do and you need not have to report to anybody," he said.

Ravi said, "We will treat it as equal as an Indian citizen," and then added to peals of laughter, "but only one point being -- we are very concerned about your families and your health, so we don't want you to contest election. So no politics� you leave that to us. We will fight in parliament, we will shout in parliament, vote in parliament, don't worry, we'll do that."

He told the more than 300 Indian Americans from the DC metropolitan area, who packed the Indian Experience restaurant in downtown DC on September 30, that this will be different from the Persons of Indian Origin card, which he explained was only valid for 15 years and was meant more "for persons and families who have gone as indentured laborers," and although they had this card nonetheless "they have to report to police in certain states, FRI areas, every six months. But this (the Overseas Citizen of India card) is totally different."

Ravi, who was in his element, lacing his remarks and then his answers during the question and answer interactive session with several jokes and humorous come-backs, said, when someone asked him what as Indian Americans, they could expect from the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Ravi replied, "I think you do not need much from my ministry. In fact, I want more from you. It's a reality."

He said it was not Indian American investment in monetary terms that India required, but "your investment of knowledge. Indian Americans can help and become a partner in the development of our society in India. We want you to share your knowledge with the new generation in India."

Ravi said that at the next Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, he would propose that "a knowledge bank" be established to harness the knowledge that Indian Americans can bring in all fields of their expertise, and said in particular mathematicians and scientists would be most welcome.

"Indian students today have a tendency to go for IT and engineering, but we are now encouraging students to go for mathematics, physics and chemistry -- the science subjects," he said.

Ravi said that when brilliant Indian American mathematicians and scientists who have been honored and recognized in the US, "come to India to share their knowledge, these students would be encouraged and inspired."

He called on these professors and researchers to 'become part of this knowledge bank," and also noted the slew of initiatives his ministry had on the anvil, including the setting up of an NRI University.

"The prime minister is very enthusiastic to have a PIO or NRI University and he has supported me, the Cabinet has approved the proposal and this will be with a NRI institute abroad."

He exhorted those present to "join me to establish such a university," and said that 50 percent of the admission "can be NRI/PIO seats and 50 percent for Indian students."

Ravi also invited professionals and academics to come and join this university when it is established either as full-time or part-time faculty and promised them that "you will have total freedom."

"I call this a partnership of the Indian Americans with India's development, especially the new generation, must get the benefit of your knowledge, which you acquired in this part of the world. I want that to be one of the major things that I want."