RIYADH, 24 January 2004 — Some of the long-standing issues concerning the welfare of the Indian expatriates have been partly resolved at the NRIs’ convention. However, there is still a need for lobbying to get the other demands conceded, such as direct flights to all major cities in India from the Gulf countries, investment schemes, pension plan for returnees, establishment of a separate ministry for the NRIs and granting voting rights for them.
Ahmed Ziauddin, president of Gulf NRIs’ Forum, who took up the issues at his meeting with Indian President Dr. A.J.P. Kalam and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in New Delhi, recently, stated this.
During his stay in the capital, Ziauddin, who works as senior vice president in the Saudi Hollandi Bank, also had a meeting with External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and other key ministers after attending the Second Pravasi Bharatiya Divas organized by the Ministry of External Affairs recently. He said “The ball has been set rolling, but there are still many more battles to be won”, Ziauddin said, adding that the NRIs play a major role in the development of the economy by contributing more than $100 billion to their national coffers.
Chairman of the Indian International School Mohammed Niaz Ahmed Khan who hailed the prime minister’s announcement, pointed out that the announcement was a source of great relief to the community, as the NRI children could pursue higher education in India as local students. Furthermore, he said, the prime minister’s recommendation will put a stop to the exodus of NRI students from Grade 9 for meeting the residential requirement to enter Indian universities and colleges.
Appreciating the new deal from “Pravasi Bharatiya Divas,” President of IDEALS Zia-ur-Rahman indicated that the new proposal fulfills a long-felt need of the Indian expatriates in the Gulf.
It will strengthen the bond between the Diaspora and Indians back home, he added.