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PIOs pleased about new dept for them

Nitish S Rele

People of Indian origin were pleasantly surprised when the external affairs ministry decided to set up a new department dedicated to their welfare.

The department, according to the ministry, will focus on the problems faced by about 20 million PIOs across the world. But if the PIOs were hopeful, it was because they had some expectations of it.

Deepak Hathiramani of Washington, DC, believes dual citizenship is of prime importance for him. He also hoped the government could do something to help Indians travelling back to their country.

"Whenever we travel to India, we have to wait in long lines at the airport, sometimes more than four hours to clear luggage with customs. This is really a nightmare."

He also hoped the government would give incentives to Indian entrepreneurs wishing to set up a business back in India.

Dual citizenship also topped the list of priorities of Kishore Joshi of Champaign, Illinois. But he too had a grouse about the way he and his family are treated at airports -- "like third-class citizens", as he put it.

"Then there are the long lines we have to deal with. This is actually one of the reasons so many NRIs don't want to visit India. If the new department can smoothen things up in this respect, that would be a big help."

Bimal Parikh of Houston, Texas, also hoped the new department had a definite roadmap for implementing dual citizenship "with the introduction of a 'green card' system as an immediate step".

"There should be a definite timeframe for dual citizenship, with a transparent approach to solving problems, perceived hurdles and issues. NRI representatives should be consulted on problems/hurdles/issues and plans should be solicited for mitigation of the same. Second, I would like the department to facilitate easy transfer of funds from India abroad for cases like inheritance. And last, easing adoption procedures for NRIs would tremendously help those seeking to adopt children from India," he said.

Madhu Parikh of Ormond Beach, Florida says a dual citizenship was not a priority for him. He said he found it more difficult to help charitable organizations in India because of bureaucracy.

"We worked on a cancer project at the Baroda Medical College and completed phase one of it sometime ago. But the second phase is facing hurdles. We are holding all the pledges back of the lack of co-operation. The government is simply not participating in larger projects on a 50-50 basis. The NRI can help alumni back home but, without help from the government, we cannot succeed," says Parikh.

Kishor Pathare of Orlando, Florida focussed on how the department could help non-resident Indians serve India during their retirement.

"doctors can assist with the opening of medical clinics/hospitals in rural areas of India; architects/planners/engineers can assist in the planning of towns and build schools in villages; environmental engineers can help by solve problems of pollution, clean water and trash disposal; and educators/professors can help open elementary/middle/high schools, technical/vocational schools, colleges and universities..."

He felt that since most NRIs here left India 30 years ago, they were of retirement age. Some of them even had parents still living in India, he said.

"If NRIs are given an opportunity to participate in such developing projects, NRIs may be interested to use their knowledge and expertise for this cause," he said.

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