The ministry of Overseas Indian affairs
is taking efforts to create a welfare fund for Non-resident
Indians (NRIs). Taking a special allocation in 2007
central budget is a step taken by the ministry to initiate the
steps for the concerned.
Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi has brought
into view important issues regarding welfare measures for NRIs
in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister
P Chidambaram.
The temporary migration of amateur workers to the Middle East
is unique in that the social cost of education or vocational training
is modest. Contrary to this, the economical and social benefits
leveraged from remittances are critical, say Ravi.
There are around five million Indian workers in the Middle East
and Gulf nations and they contribute to around 50 per cent of
the total annual remittances of $25 billion sent by overseas Indians.
Middle East and gulf countries are catering to a populace of
around five million NRI.
They are contributing to a major portion of remittances of around
$25 billion. Interestingly, the remittances from NRIs staying
in these countries are higher than remittances of others.
NRIs who return can increase the incidence of unemployment by
exerting pressure on the scarce job opportunities in the rural
areas. Thus, it is utmost important for the government to launch
an initiative for NRIs welfare as well as the returnees.
