NRI’s treated as Not Required Indians!
The Indian Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia's remarks that “Indian government was not after NRI money”, and his sarcastic comment that “Indian Diaspora should not be apologetic if they don't feel ready to invest in India” was in a very bad taste, especially on a Pravasi Bhartiya Divas platform meant for Indian Diaspora (NRI/PIO/OCI) held at New Delhi.
These remarks have deeply humiliated millions of NRI's who have played a major role in successfully bailing out the Indian economy from the dwindling foreign reserves constantly buffeted by oil crises and acting as catalyst in boosting the economic progress since last four decades. Mr. Ahluwalia has to know that Indian overseas foreign workers, also known as Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), created history in 2010 by becoming the top remitting community in the world with $55 billion in remittances, leaving behind Mexico, China, and the Philippines, according to the latest World Bank Migration and Remittances Fact book 2011 report.
It clearly shows how misinformed he is and how he is enjoying the good work done by his predecessors in building foreign reserves for the country. Montek Singh is forgetting the goodwill that Indians have built globally over decades with their hard work and professionalism for getting investments opportunities in India. May be he is swayed and highly influenced by politicians and he is trying to cut off the hands that helped India to build its reserves during crisis. If he is that much confident than he should allow free flow of foreign reserves from FDI’s or he should ease RBI’s foreign exchange regulations and make Indian Rupee fully convertible and repatriable.
The Indian President, Mrs. Prathiba Patil has rightly said on the occasion of the 8th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, that NRI’s contribution especially from Gulf countries is highly appreciable. Gulf NRI’s often face harsh living and working conditions and are separated from their families for longer periods of time. She salutes Indian workers living in the Gulf for their valuable contribution to the nation. NRIs huge remittances in billions of rupees toward foreign reserves and investment, after passing through numerous hardships away from home, is the remarkable and significant contribution in the economic and social development of the country.
These remarks have deeply humiliated millions of NRI's who have played a major role in successfully bailing out the Indian economy from the dwindling foreign reserves constantly buffeted by oil crises and acting as catalyst in boosting the economic progress since last four decades. Mr. Ahluwalia has to know that Indian overseas foreign workers, also known as Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), created history in 2010 by becoming the top remitting community in the world with $55 billion in remittances, leaving behind Mexico, China, and the Philippines, according to the latest World Bank Migration and Remittances Fact book 2011 report.
It clearly shows how misinformed he is and how he is enjoying the good work done by his predecessors in building foreign reserves for the country. Montek Singh is forgetting the goodwill that Indians have built globally over decades with their hard work and professionalism for getting investments opportunities in India. May be he is swayed and highly influenced by politicians and he is trying to cut off the hands that helped India to build its reserves during crisis. If he is that much confident than he should allow free flow of foreign reserves from FDI’s or he should ease RBI’s foreign exchange regulations and make Indian Rupee fully convertible and repatriable.
The Indian President, Mrs. Prathiba Patil has rightly said on the occasion of the 8th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, that NRI’s contribution especially from Gulf countries is highly appreciable. Gulf NRI’s often face harsh living and working conditions and are separated from their families for longer periods of time. She salutes Indian workers living in the Gulf for their valuable contribution to the nation. NRIs huge remittances in billions of rupees toward foreign reserves and investment, after passing through numerous hardships away from home, is the remarkable and significant contribution in the economic and social development of the country.
It is requested to the government of India not to treat NRI’s as Not Required Indians.
