January 9, Pravasi Bharathi Day
Kadakkal Ramesh
(General Secretary, All Kerala Gulf Returnees’ Organization)
As we celebrate the 4th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas, declared by the India Government in 2002, it would be desirable if the Government and other organizations discuss and find out solutions for the problems faced by the NRIs and their families. When we go through the media, we realize that lakhs of NRIs, who left their near and dear ones and the country with the hope of fulfilling their dreams of leading a prosperous and poverty-free life, are living with deep mental depression and dissatisfaction. Millions of literate and illiterate youth of our country are forced to migrate to other parts of the world in search of jobs, because of the financial insecurity and the social injustice prevailing in our country. The dreaded face of uncertainty and poverty they would have to face, if they come back, compels them to stay back and work hard and send back home valuable foreign currency, which is very much used for different development activities in our country, even if they have to face several types of difficulties in their host countries.
The number of NRIs who fall victims to the international terrorism, the result of which is only destruction and creation of panic among the citizens of the world, are on the increase. The countries all over the world have to take initiative to find out a peaceful solution to this dangerous act, because of which the only bread winners of several families are taken away. It was very painful for all the patriotic Indians, when many of our brothers and sisters were killed in terrorist attacks in the United States and in the Middle East. Global terrorism which is adversely affecting the world economy should be checked at any cost with initiative from United Nations Organization and other political, social and religious organizations. World community has to realize that collective efforts are inevitable to preserve global peace and prosperity. The foreign currency sent by NRIs to India have been very useful for the development of our country, especially Kerala. Thousands of NRIs from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat etc. are working or doing business in various countries around the globe and they are sending millions of dollars to the exchequer of our country. A new work-development culture has to be developed in our country by starting new ventures by using the surplus foreign currency and the technical expertise our people had attained from different countries and thus paving the way towards prosperity and peace. In recent times we have noticed that all the ruling governments, irrespective of their nature of political alliance, are spreading red carpets for NRIs to invest in different projects in our country. In a consumer state like Kerala, the overall development of the state is possible only by attracting investors from abroad, which creates a situation for the next generation to live in pride, with their heads up and without unemployment and poverty. It is too late that the governing community should wake up to the situation and create favourable atmosphere in our country, where more and more NRIs can be attracted for investments. It is unfortunate that the heart of every patriotic Indian was filled with agony, when during the last many decades their dreams of turning our country into a fully developed nation was shattered because of the prevailing situation of political rivalry, non-unity among the people and sectarian approach of different religious groups. It is also a matter of great concern for the NRIs that eventhough the central government has approved the concept of giving dual citizenship to NRIs, the implementation of this long awaited demand is taking a slow pace. A long dream of NRIs will be cherished if the government takes a positive step towards the speedy implementation of dual citizenship for the NRIs.
The social insecurity addressed by the families of NRIs was a great matter of concern for the Indians staying abroad. NRI families have always been targeted by antisocial elements to squeeze them for fund, and those not complying were threatened and physically assaulted. It is the social obligation of the government and all the positive thinking people to protect and extend all help to the families of those NRIs who are compelled to leave back their families for the purpose of education of their children or because of some unavoidable circumstantial pressures. It is the moral responsibility of the governments and the banks to advice and give directions to the NRIs on how to invest their hard earned money in a more creative manner. Banks and other financial institutions in our country should not hesitate to extend a helping hand to those NRIs who may require loans for construction of houses, for the education and marriage of their children or for starting some venture in the country. When the job opportunities abroad are diminishing and more and more people are coming back to our country from different parts of the world after working for many decades, especially from the Middle East area, those returnees are to be rehabilitated and more attention is expected from the authorities to this category of people. The central government should take initiative to implement rehabilitation schemes for those who permanently return from abroad and settle down in India. We will be sincerely executing our duty if we could implement schemes like providing pensions, meeting treatment expense, providing educational loan and marriage loan for the children of those who return from abroad, who have proved themselves a hardworking lot of our society.
In the coming years also lakhs of people from our country have to go abroad as NRIs, and work hard and help enhance the foreign currency reserve of our country. A new generation of people is being moulded out here in our reputed educational institutions as hi-tech professionals, doctors, engineers, nurses and highly qualified management candidates who will be given a red carpet welcome by the rest of the world, who will be thereafter destined to lead a very fortunate and luxurious life. The duty of the government and the people of our country is to provide security for the NRIs in the foreign soil and to give protection and all assistance to the members of their families back in our country.
(Kadakkal Ramesh, Tel: 09387801535,
e-mail :kadakkalramesh@yahoo.com)
(General Secretary, All Kerala Gulf Returnees’ Organization)
As we celebrate the 4th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas, declared by the India Government in 2002, it would be desirable if the Government and other organizations discuss and find out solutions for the problems faced by the NRIs and their families. When we go through the media, we realize that lakhs of NRIs, who left their near and dear ones and the country with the hope of fulfilling their dreams of leading a prosperous and poverty-free life, are living with deep mental depression and dissatisfaction. Millions of literate and illiterate youth of our country are forced to migrate to other parts of the world in search of jobs, because of the financial insecurity and the social injustice prevailing in our country. The dreaded face of uncertainty and poverty they would have to face, if they come back, compels them to stay back and work hard and send back home valuable foreign currency, which is very much used for different development activities in our country, even if they have to face several types of difficulties in their host countries.
The number of NRIs who fall victims to the international terrorism, the result of which is only destruction and creation of panic among the citizens of the world, are on the increase. The countries all over the world have to take initiative to find out a peaceful solution to this dangerous act, because of which the only bread winners of several families are taken away. It was very painful for all the patriotic Indians, when many of our brothers and sisters were killed in terrorist attacks in the United States and in the Middle East. Global terrorism which is adversely affecting the world economy should be checked at any cost with initiative from United Nations Organization and other political, social and religious organizations. World community has to realize that collective efforts are inevitable to preserve global peace and prosperity. The foreign currency sent by NRIs to India have been very useful for the development of our country, especially Kerala. Thousands of NRIs from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat etc. are working or doing business in various countries around the globe and they are sending millions of dollars to the exchequer of our country. A new work-development culture has to be developed in our country by starting new ventures by using the surplus foreign currency and the technical expertise our people had attained from different countries and thus paving the way towards prosperity and peace. In recent times we have noticed that all the ruling governments, irrespective of their nature of political alliance, are spreading red carpets for NRIs to invest in different projects in our country. In a consumer state like Kerala, the overall development of the state is possible only by attracting investors from abroad, which creates a situation for the next generation to live in pride, with their heads up and without unemployment and poverty. It is too late that the governing community should wake up to the situation and create favourable atmosphere in our country, where more and more NRIs can be attracted for investments. It is unfortunate that the heart of every patriotic Indian was filled with agony, when during the last many decades their dreams of turning our country into a fully developed nation was shattered because of the prevailing situation of political rivalry, non-unity among the people and sectarian approach of different religious groups. It is also a matter of great concern for the NRIs that eventhough the central government has approved the concept of giving dual citizenship to NRIs, the implementation of this long awaited demand is taking a slow pace. A long dream of NRIs will be cherished if the government takes a positive step towards the speedy implementation of dual citizenship for the NRIs.
The social insecurity addressed by the families of NRIs was a great matter of concern for the Indians staying abroad. NRI families have always been targeted by antisocial elements to squeeze them for fund, and those not complying were threatened and physically assaulted. It is the social obligation of the government and all the positive thinking people to protect and extend all help to the families of those NRIs who are compelled to leave back their families for the purpose of education of their children or because of some unavoidable circumstantial pressures. It is the moral responsibility of the governments and the banks to advice and give directions to the NRIs on how to invest their hard earned money in a more creative manner. Banks and other financial institutions in our country should not hesitate to extend a helping hand to those NRIs who may require loans for construction of houses, for the education and marriage of their children or for starting some venture in the country. When the job opportunities abroad are diminishing and more and more people are coming back to our country from different parts of the world after working for many decades, especially from the Middle East area, those returnees are to be rehabilitated and more attention is expected from the authorities to this category of people. The central government should take initiative to implement rehabilitation schemes for those who permanently return from abroad and settle down in India. We will be sincerely executing our duty if we could implement schemes like providing pensions, meeting treatment expense, providing educational loan and marriage loan for the children of those who return from abroad, who have proved themselves a hardworking lot of our society.
In the coming years also lakhs of people from our country have to go abroad as NRIs, and work hard and help enhance the foreign currency reserve of our country. A new generation of people is being moulded out here in our reputed educational institutions as hi-tech professionals, doctors, engineers, nurses and highly qualified management candidates who will be given a red carpet welcome by the rest of the world, who will be thereafter destined to lead a very fortunate and luxurious life. The duty of the government and the people of our country is to provide security for the NRIs in the foreign soil and to give protection and all assistance to the members of their families back in our country.
(Kadakkal Ramesh, Tel: 09387801535,
e-mail :kadakkalramesh@yahoo.com)
posted by Kadakkal Ramesh @ 2:26 AM
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