Ever since Narendra Modi become the Prime Minister in 2014, there has been a paradigm shift in the Union Government's outlook towards non-resident Indians. The NRIs are seen as brand ambassadors and not betrayers
Until three to four decades ago, Indians living abroad were looked down upon by our society. The general perception was then that it was wrong to have used our resources and then leave the country to settle abroad. It was not only wrong but it also amounted to betraying the nation. But now the perception has changed. Indians settled abroad are seen as our brand ambassadors in foreign countries. Even the Union Government’s stand has undergone a transformation.
It is in this backdrop that the 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas or the non-resident Indians (NRI) Day, was held in Bangalore from January 7 to 9. Non-resident Indians from over 150 countries participated in the conference.
In fact, ever since Narendra Modi become the Prime Minister, there has been a paradigm shift in our foreign policy for the better of the country, and for the better of Indians living abroad. From Sydney to New York and from Nairobi to Dubai, Prime Minister Modi invited people of Indian origin residing in those cities, held large meetings and interacted with them. The Prime Minister raised issues of non-resident Indians with heads of states, Presidents, Prime Ministers, kings and monarchs of the countries he visited. The new approach and treatment given to non-resident Indians have bolstered the morale of our brothers and sisters living away from the country.
Before this happened, the normal practice was: When our Prime Minister or President visited a foreign country, the Indian embassies and High Commissions would invite a select group of non-resident Indians over lunch, dinner or tea, for a brief interaction with the visiting VVIP. This left a vast majority of non-resident Indians living abroad alienated from India.
This practice of having minimal contact with non-resident Indians was there since the era of Jawaharlal Nehru, who was then our Prime Minister. Nehru had gone to the extent of making a statement in Parliament in 1957 that we had nothing do with Indians living and settled in foreign countries!
Now the Modi Government has adopted a proactive policy for non-resident Indians. The Prime Minister believes that Indians settled abroad are not only our brand ambassadors since many of the 250 crore NRIs are now holding high positions in multinational companies abroad, but also the face of India. To name a few, Indra Nooyi, lord Meghnad Desai, lord Swraj Paul in Britain and lord Karan Bilimoria in the UK, Global Head of Mastercard Ajay Banga — they are well-known entities in the world today.
The good thing is that the Modi Government is taking care of Indians living abroad and helping them in situations of distress. In 2015, thousands of Indians were rescued from war-torn Yemen by the Government. Many countries, including the US, France and Germany took India’s help in evacuating their nationals from Yemen.
Prime Minister Modi has given a major thrust to strengthening our ties with the Gulf nations where a large number of skilled and unskilled Indian workers are engaged in ongoing projects. During his last visit to Saudi Arabia, he took up the issue of Indian workers there with the head of the state, and received a positive outcome.
On our Republic Day Parade celebrations this year, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will be the chief guest. The visit will further cement our ties with Abu Dhabi, where a large number of Indian workers are settled.
During the UPA Government headed by Manmohan Singh, questions were raised in Parliament over the plight of Indians working in the Gulf. Just look what E Ahamed, a Minister in the the Government, had told the House: “According to estimates, approximately six million Indians are working in the Gulf countries. The Government receives complaint from them time to time. The Government of India through its missions in the Gulf has tried to resolve issues related to exploitation and sufferings of the Indian migrant force.”
It is a brief version of the Minister’s reply in Parliament, but one can imagine the casual approach of the then UPA Government to the plight of Indian workers in the Gulf.
Things have changed now. The Modi Government is taking special care to see to it that the NRIs are not exploited on foreign soil.
Since the past few years, many State Governments have begun organising the NRI Day. A large number of people from Andhra Pradesh have gone and settled in the US. The Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Gujarat Governments are organising the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. Until recently, the event was held in the national capital of Delhi. But now it is being held in Chennai, Bangalore and Gandhinagar as well.
(The writer is a member of the Rajya Sabha and chairman, Hindusthan Samachar)