Montek Singh Ahluwalia appealed to the Indian Diaspora at the PBD gathering to support health care ventures of the Indian government, for people below the poverty line.
Call 1800 11 3090, toll free from India BSNL/MTNL numbers or 911140503090 from mobile and landline anywhere in India.
The minister also said that we should not paint the entire private sector companies as villains because of one bad firm. He said that the government will take steps to restore investor confidence, but did not elaborate on the issue.
'In our new initiative at e-governance all workers working abroad will be given smart cards which will have their information, and their employment information. This information will be available to the Government of India also so that we can provide all help when needed through the ministry of overseas Indian affairs,' says Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
Ravi, who inaugurated the 15th national biennial convention of the National Federation of Indian Americans in Seattle, Washington, told rediff.com that the Government of India and his Ministry are committed to the safety and protection of Indian students in the US and anywhere in the world, and that during his visit he would meet with the relevant authorities in the US to make sure that the welfare of the Indian students is ensured.
Today, NRIs are eager to reconnect with India because India is a growth story and it makes good business sense.
At 14, Jordan Bowen might be the youngest delegate at the just-concluded Pravasi Bharatiya Divas but he amazed everyone with his clarity and depth in ideas. His dream: want to join Parliament.
Vayalar Ravi, the Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, announced that the 8th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to be held at Vigyan Bhavan from January 7 to 9 would focus on empowerment of rural women.
Dr Anbumani Ramdoss, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, has urged the Indian medical Diaspora to be part of India's initiative in providing health for all. According to the minister, there are a lot of opportunities for the Diaspora as India has accepted the post graduate degrees from all English-speaking countries.
Industry estimates suggest that over the next four years, organised retail in India will receive investments in excess of $25 billion from domestic and foreign players, taking the size of organised retail to $ 75 billion.
Malaysia has frozen the recruitment of Indian workers, including temple priests, sculptors and musicians, a move apparently linked to the recent mass protests by the ethnic Indians here against their alleged marginalisation.
The Centre will set up a Global Advisory Council for Persons of Indian Origin.
A hassle-free electronic remittances gateway, enabling non-resident Indians to send money back home, will be launched during the three-day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas opening in Hyderabad on January 7.
The first ever live webcast of Pravasi Bhartiya Divas 2008 will be put up on www.PIOTV.com
The Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin will give away the awards on January 6, which coincides with Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.
The PBD this year functions as a political stage for the BJP government at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi have been wooing the Indian diaspora through widely publicised events across the country. At the PBD, the mood was either largely pro-Modi, and when not, apolitical.
Following the recent arrests of some suspected terrorists in Hyderabad and neighbouring districts, police and intelligence agencies have beefed up security.
India plans to create a special centre to attract investments from overseas Indians as also to facilitate creation of a global Indian consortium to work with apex trade bodies, states of India and various associations of overseas Indians.
Ramesh Chandra, a retired design engineer who has been in the US since 1980, is in New Delhi to attend the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. His main interest in coming to India has been to point out this flaw, which he says is evident at several important places.
On the eve of the sixth PBD, Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi clears the air about these perceptions and explains to rediff.com's Krishnakumar how this year's event will bridge the gap between the Indians abroad and Indians back home.
'A confident India is now coming in contact with NRIs,' says J C Sharma, secretary, ministry of external affairs on the first conference of overseas Indians.
Reforms are like cricket scores, once they are scored, you just cannot erase them from the scoreboard," Finance Minister P Chidambaram said.
'If any Pravasi attends the event he will not be disappointed,' says Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi.
The prime minister's assurance on dual citizenship will be sweet music to nearly 12 million officially estimated Bangladeshi infiltrators staying in India, Advani remarked.
Foreigners who operate/own shacks and restaurants along the Baga-Anjuna coastline say they are being victimised by locals jealous of their success.
Two of the awardees -- Billy Nair from South Africa and Sibabrata Roy from Germany -- were unable to make it for the presentation.
He also thanked the non-resident Indians in West Asia and other parts of the world for the handsome contribution their remittances make to the strengthening of our economy.
"Moreover, PBD has a lot to do with government and each government takes advantage of it and utilises it for its vested interest."
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