The Union Government has set up a high level committee (HLC) to make an in-depth study of the problems and difficulties and the hopes and expectations of overseas Indian communities.

The HLC, set up as per the directive of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, is headed by former Indian High Commissioner to UK, Dr L.M. Singhvi, who is currently Member of Rajya Sabha. The committee has been directed to submit its report and recommendations to the government by August 2001.

The diaspora is currently estimated at twenty million. Composed of "NRIs" (Indian citizens not residing in India) and PIOs (Persons of Indian Origin who have acquired the citizenship of some other country), it is found in practically every part of the world. It numbers more than a million in eleven countries, while as many as 22 countries have concentrations of at least a 100,000 ethnic Indians.

Residing in distant lands, the members of the diaspora have succeeded spectacularly in their chosen professions by dint of their single-minded dedication and their hard work. They have retained their emotional, cultural and spiritual links with their country of origin. This strikes a reciprocal chord in the hearts of people of India.

The government decided to set up the HLC as part of its efforts to nurture this symbiotic relationship to mutual advantage. The committee has invited suggestions and comments from members of the diaspora on the following points:

• Constitutional and legal provisions
• Citizenship and nationality issues
• Educational facilities in India
• Tourism
• Consular problems faced by Indian workers abroad
• Information regarding new scientific and technological findings that may be of relevance to Indian conditions
• Information technology in hi-tech areas
• Security-related issues
• Trade and Investment matters
• Honours and Awards
• Information regarding well-researched studies on the Indian Diaspora
• Role played by the overseas ethnic Indian community in local civic and political matters
• Information relating to any useful websites regarding NRIs and PIOs.

Please do send in your views, grievances, comments and suggestions on the points above to editor@punecity.com We will be happy to put these up at our site for a constructive and meaningful debate on these issues and forward them to the High Level Committee.

By
Editor
Punecity.com