A new series of Labour award to recognize and honoured the contribution of Overseas Indian workers was announced by the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Shri Vayalar Ravi. Addressing the Economic Editors’ Conference in New Delhi today, he said that the Overseas Indian workers would also be awarded, along with the other eminent NRIs during the 5th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD)-2007, which to be held in New Delhi from 7th to 9th January 2006.
The Minister also announced that the Ministry will establish a PIO University in a partnership with private sector soon. The proposal is at the advance stage. He further said that the Ministry has signed a Social Security Agreement (SSA) with Belgium to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries. The importance of this agreement which will constitutes a model for similar agreements with other countries, is that it is a bilateral instrument that best meets the needs of rapidly globalising economy such as India. We intend to finalize similar agreements with other EU countries, he added.
He said that the Ministry is taking steps to address problems of the overseas Indian workers in a comprehensive manner. This includes amendments to the Emigration Act, finalizing bilateral labour agreements with labour receiving countries, skill up gradation for migrant workers, introducing a social security net for women workers and e-governance in emigration to make the process simple and transparent. He informed that the Ministry is establishing an overseas Indian investment facilitation centre in partnership with apex industry associations and the states to serve as a first and single point for prospective overseas Indian investors.
Shri. Ravi also said that the ministry has till date since January issued over 72,000 OCI cards to expand the scope of benefits under the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) scheme. He announced that Ministry is also introducing a means cum merit scheme for children of overseas Indian to study in India.
PKM/SR
(Release ID :21788)