Lok Sabha Question No. 1793 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-13
Subject: Interaction of Overseas Indians
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: PARVESH SAHIB SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1793

TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.02.2019

## INTERACTION OF OVERSEAS INDIANS

## 1793. SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of new initiatives taken by the Government for interaction of overseas Indians with India in the fields of Culture, Education and Trade;
- (b) the   details   of   recent   developments   in   communication   and   marketing strategies for ensuring strong links with overseas Indian community; and
- (c) the details of major instances of successful cooperation and guidance provided by the Government with States in matters of overseas Indians within last four years?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) Since 2014, several new initiatives have been taken and old programmes have been revamped by the Government for interaction of overseas Indians with India in the fields of Culture, Education and Trade.

The new initiatives taken by the Government are as below:

The Know   India   Programme   (KIP) is   a   flagship   initiative   of   the Government to reconnect young persons of Indian-origin with their roots and give them an exposure to various aspects of Indian life, cultural heritage, art and contemporary India.  The   frequency   of   KIP   has   been   increased   from   2   to   6 editions in a year. The duration of the prograame is increased from 21 to 25 days, the age of participants is increased from 18 to 26 to 18 to 30 years. More states can now be made partners in this programme with increased duration of the state leg from 7 to 10 days. In the last four and half years, 1060 young persons of Indian-origin participated in KIP programme.

Besides, the Government has initiated a special Know India Programme titled 'Pravasi Teerth Darshan Yojana' for the people of Indian Origin (PIOs) in the age group of 45-60 years to connect them to the spiritual and religious aspects  of   India.   This   programme   is   aimed   to   help   them   visit   India   on   an organized pilgrimage, paid for by the government of India, and have an all round exposure to all faiths in India. T wo editions are organized every year.

The 1st PIO-Parliamentarian Conference was also held on January 9, 2018 in New Delhi, with an aim to strengthen the engagement with the Overseas Indians.   The   one-day   Conference   was   attended   by   137   sitting   PIO Parliamentarians and Mayors from 24 countries.

Pravasi Bhartiya Divas is celebrated every two years. The 15th PBD Convention was held from 21 to 23 January 2019 in Varanasi with Uttar Pradesh as the Partner State. In reverence to the sentiments of the larger diaspora, participants were offered to participate in Kumbh Mela at   Prayagraj   on   24 January, 2019 and to witness the Republic Day Parade at New  Delhi on 26 January, 2019.   In the spirit of 'Atithi Devo Bhava', the delegates were also offered hospitality in the homes of Kashi citizens under 'Kashi ka Athitya' programme.

Under a new initiative since 2015, theme-based PBD Conferences are held  on   topics   of   concern   to   our   diaspora   with   participation   from   overseas diaspora   experts,   policy   makers   and   stakeholders.   The   result   of   these conferences are presented in the plenary sessions that are held in the PBD Convention. Their recommendations are then evaluated and implemented, which gives our diaspora an opportunity to play an important role in policy formulation of the Government.

The Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC), which was launched to make higher education in Indian Universities/Institutions accessible to diaspora children and promote India as a centre for higher studies, is now extended from 100 to 150 scholarships and from 40 to 67 countries. The scholarship amount has been increased from  US$ 3600 to US$ 4000 per student per annum. The eligibility requirement of monthly income of parents is relaxed from US$2250/- to US$ 4000/- per month and the documentation process is eased by introducing self-attestation of documents. Of the 150 scholarships, 50 are given to the children of CIWG (children of Indians working in Gulf) of which 1/3rd slots are reserved for wards of CIWG living and studying in India. SPDC is now also extended to wards of Indians living in Nepal (as they are not entitled to OCI/PIO/NRI status).

Besides, the   Ministry of Culture operates Scheme for Promotion of International Cultural Relations under which Festivals of India are organized abroad showcasing folk art and other cultural events such as exhibitions, dance, music, theatre, food festival, literary festival, film festival, yoga etc. Under this Scheme, Ministry of Culture also gives grant-in-aid to lndo Foreign Friendship Cultural Sociefies for organizing cultural programmes and activities abroad.

Ministry of External Affairs supports the diaspora to organise the cultural events under the Promotion of Cultural Ties with Diaspora (PCTD) scheme with an aim to showcase Indian culture and new initiatives & developments of modern India.   Under   the   guidelines   of   ICWF,   all   the   HoMs   have   also   been delegated powers to spend money on these events.

(b) Prime Minister and other senior Ministers also visit and interact with the Indian Community and also with the CEOs of the diaspora, which has also helped in developing strong links with overseas Indian community.

(c) The External   Affairs   Minister   holds   regular   interactions   with   the   Chief Ministers and senior  ministers of different states to discuss all Indian Community and Labour issues. With the efforts of government of India, NRI departments have been set up in almost all the states.

The government has been organizing MEA-State Government outreach events under the banner 'Videsh Sampark' to seek cooperation in addressing issues pertaining to welfare and protection of our citizens abroad and brief the State  Government about Ministry's initiatives pertaining to engagement and

welfare of the overseas Indian community and curbing illegal migration. Five Outreach Events have been organized in partnership with the State Governments of T elangana, Maharashtra, Kerala, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

During the last one and half year, Awareness Generation and Training of Trainers (TOT) Workshops have been conducted in eight states i.e. Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala, Rajasthan, Punjab, T elangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal in coordination with the concerned Departments of the State Government for generating awareness and to sensitize participants about the benefits of safe, orderly   and   regular   migration   and   welfare   and   protection   measures   of   the Government for the migrant workers. These workshops were aimed at capacity building of  States  to   enable   them   to   take   the Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO) programmes at the grass-root level in the major labour sending districts.

The Videsh Bhavan buildings,   which   are   set   up   in   every   state,   are offering the services of Passport, PG, ICCR and Pre-departure orientation training (PDOT) programmes under one single roof.

*****