Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday told overseas Indians that his government is making efforts to ease the processes concerning their social security, passport, visa and PIO and OCI cards and that work is on to issue chip-based e-passports.
Inaugurating this year's Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), the Indian diaspora conclave, he said that the government's endeavour was that overseas Indians should stay "happy and safe wherever they are".
"The government is trying to ease the entire processes concerning your social security, passport, visa, Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cards. We have taken a new step a few months back concerning overseas Indians. Our embassies and consulates are being connected to the Passport Seva Project worldwide," he said.
Made an announcement at the #PBD2019. Know what it is... pic.twitter.com/Y8Y5FfLGX1
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 22, 2019
This, he said, will prepare a centralized system connected to the passport service for all of them. "Going one step ahead, work is on for issuing of the chip-based e-passport."
PM @narendramodi :
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) January 22, 2019
मैं आपको भारत का ब्रैंड एंबेसेडर मानने के साथ ही भारत के सामर्थ्य और भारत की क्षमताओं,
देश की विशेषताओं का प्रतीक भी मानता हूं।
PM addresses Indian diaspora at #PBD2019 - the largest number of participants at a @PBDConvention ever!
➡️ https://t.co/2N2iMWYzHU pic.twitter.com/SJZ1fDpDwQ
The Prime Minister said that along with passport, the rules related to visa were being simplified.
"With the convenience of e-visa, you are also saving time and problems are also getting reduced.
Addressing the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas programme in Varanasi. Watch. https://t.co/BrhVZTLNxb
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 22, 2019
"Many of you will also be familiar with the fact that our government has made the process of converting PIO (Person of Indian Origin) cards into OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cards."
Modi also urged Indians or people of Indian living abroad to contribute to the building of a new India and said that the changes that were coming in India were becoming new opportunities.
"In this changing India, you can play a big role in research and development and innovation.
Distinguished #PravasiAtVaranasi !
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) January 22, 2019
Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth, Chief Guest at #PBD2019 commended India’s efforts in reaching out to the Diaspora in his keynote address @PBDConvention in presence of PM @narendramodi , EAM @SushmaSwaraj ,MoS @Gen_VKSingh pic.twitter.com/fkTaRJWeH9
"The government is also trying to bring Indian start-ups and NRI mentors together on one platform. Defence manufacturing can also be an important sector for you."
Modi urged Indians living abroad to motivate at least five families around them to come to India. "Your efforts will play an important role in enhancing tourism in the country."
He said that in the last four years, India had taken a major step towards achieving its natural position in the world.
"People used to say that India cannot change," he said. "We have changed this thinking. We have made changes."
नए भारत के निर्माण में प्रवासियों की भूमिका !
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) January 22, 2019
EAM @SushmaSwaraj addresses pravasis at the inauguration of 15th #PBD2019 in the presence of PM @narendramodi ,PM of #Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth, Chief Guest @PBDConvention , MoS @Gen_VKSingh ,CM of UP @myogiadityanath pic.twitter.com/oeB5CFz4Kq
Stating that today India led the world in many fields, he said the International Solar Alliance was one such example.
"It is also part of our goal of preparing solutions to India's problems, that can also solve the problems of other countries. We are working with the application of local solution, global application."
Modi added: "In the last four-and-a-half years, more than two lakh Indians stranded in crisis situations abroad have been helped by the government and its efforts."
Ahead of this year's general elections, Modi also launched an attack on the Congress over the issue of corruption citing a quote by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Strong cultural bonding.
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) January 21, 2019
EAM @SushmaSwaraj called on PM of #Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth on #PBD2019 margins in Varanasi. Exchanged views on a range of issues including strengthening bilateral cooperation. pic.twitter.com/rKWPyO36xv
"He said that only 15 percent of the money that the central government sends from Delhi reach the people."
Modi said no attempt was made by the Congress to stop this loot. "The country's middle class continued to pay taxes honestly, and 85 per cent of this loot continued."
But his government was using technology to eliminate this loot.
Modi's Mauritius counterpart Pravind Jugnauth, the chief guest at the event, commended India's efforts in reaching out to the diaspora.
Earlier, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj welcomed the gathering.
Organised by the External Affairs Ministry and the Uttar Pradesh government, the Indian diaspora conclave this year has over 5,000 delegates registered.
15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas #PBD2019 begins today in #Varanasi.
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) January 21, 2019
Follow our handles @PBDConvention and @IndianDiplomacy for updates. pic.twitter.com/OkYuM7jKnz
This year's theme of the convention is "Role of Indian diaspora in building a new India".
Modi called this year's PBD the "most successful" event saying the people of Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency, have taken ownership of the three-day jamboree.