The second carnival of Indian Diaspora, 24 January 2004 — Pravasi Bharatiya Divas — held in New Delhi on Jan. 9, was not a fiasco as it is being made out to be, says Mohammed Ali, a winner of this year’s Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Puraskar (Indian Diaspora Award). Even though it made little ground on the long-standing issues facing the Gulf NRIs, the event was a step in the right direction.
Mohammed Ali says that the Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in the Gulf returned with at least some sops announced by the government. “But more importantly, at least a platform has been built where people can go and raise their issues and concerns year after year.”
Mohammed Ali is the managing director of Galfar Engineering and Contracting LLC, the flagship of the Galfar Group of Companies, Oman. He figures among the most prominent NRI in the region and is known for his business acumen. He is also an educationist of repute and runs various primary and technical institutions in Oman.
“Gulf NRIs are temporary non-residents as they have most of their family back home. They are geographically and mentally closer to the mainland. But since most of them are blue-collared workers with less education, they need special treatment,” Mohammed Ali said. According to him incentives announced by the Indian government are well-intentioned steps, but more should be done to improve things on the ground.
“The day a person decides to move to a Gulf country, he becomes a subject of exploitation first at the hands of recruitment and travel agents and then employers and other agents. Even when he travels to his country on vacation, he faces exploitation throughout his journey. Something must be done about it.”
Mohammed Ali criticized the high airfare in the Gulf-India sector adding that it ranks among the highest in the world. According to him, the lack of an open-sky policy is responsible for this imbalance. He advocated alternative modes of transport to help blue-collared workers in the region.
Mohammed Ali feels insurance, pension and rehabilitation schemes for the Gulf NRIs are all signs of changing circumstances. “It is a sign of realization in the government circle. Yet more needs to be done, especially in the area of airfare.”
However, Mohammed Ali dismisses the talk of discrimination against Gulf NRIs. “Each worker is an economic soldier, be it in India or residing in any part of the world. The government should treat them equally but also help those who are more needy.”
According to him Gulf NRIs have bailed India out on numerous occasions and would continue to contribute to the country’s growth, irrespective of how they are treated in the corridors of power.
That sums up the man.
