Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that on Sunday that, despite an adverse international environment, the Indian economy was expected to grow by about 7% this financial year and hoped to bring back the rhythm of its growth processes to sustain an annual growth rate of 9-10% in the medium term.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Trinidad & Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar lighting the lamp on the 10th Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas at Birla auditorium in Jaipur on January 8, 2012. UNI PHOTO
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said that, despite an adverse international environment, the Indian economy was expected to grow by about 7 per cent this financial year and hoped to bring back the rhythm of its growth processes to sustain an annual growth rate of 9-10 per cent in the medium term.
"Our country is also going through difficult times. Nonetheless, our economic fundamentals are strong and our constitutional processes are robust. We are up to the task of meeting these challenges we face as a nation," he said in his inaugural address at the 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) in Jaipur today.
More than 1300 delegates from 54 countries are attending this year's PBD, a high-profile annual convention of non-resident Indians (NRIs) and persons of Indian origin (PIOs) organised by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs.
The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad Bissessar is the Chief Guest at the event, which is also being attended by eight Ministers of Indian origin from various countries, 10 Central Ministers and an equal number of Chief Ministers and other Ministers from State Governments.
Singh said India's domestic savings rate, which currently stands at 33-35 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), would greatly facilitate the realization of its growth objectives. He said the Government's efforts to battle inflation were producing results and there had been an improvement in the situation.
He said the Government had attempted sincerely to address the rising expectations of the people with regard to governance and delivery of public services.
"The Right to Information Act has proved to be a powerful instrument of bringing in transparency in governance. I am confident that some of the other legislations on these issues, which are now on the national agenda, will make a similar impact in the years ahead," he said.
Noting that the theme for this year's PBD is “Global Indian - Inclusive Growth", Singh said Indian civilization and society had always been inclusive in character.He said that it was only natural that the country's political and economic processes had also to be "inclusive" in their orientation and in their outcome.
Singh said that, over the past years, Indian democracy had deepened and gained in strength and vitality as more and more people from the disadvantaged sections of society had secured their rightful place in its economic and political processes.
"We wish to unleash the vast human potential of the many millions, who for one reason or another, have been on the margins of our society in the past. Our government is committed to doing so by providing security of education, nutrition and health to every Indian so that he or she is empowered to live a life of dignity and well being. We are also committed to the pursuit of a development strategy which will protect our environment and the essential life-support systems of our planet," he said.
The Prime Minister was full of praise for Persad-Bissessar, who created history by becoming the first woman Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.
"She distinguished herself in her earlier careers in education and law. Subsequently, she responded to the call of public service and proved what a person of talent, dedication and commitment can achieve anywhere in this world," he said.
'In welcoming Prime Minister Madam Kamla Persad Bissessar today we also seek to honour the large Indian diaspora in the Caribbean. We are proud of their achievements. Their journey, often in very difficult circumstances, to those far-away lands began many, many years ago, but their links with India remain strong and deep. Our shared passion for cricket is well known. Which Indian sports fan does not know the names of cricketing legends like Brian Lara or Sonny Ramadhin," he said.
Singh pointed out that this year's PBD marked the 10th anniversary of the event first held in 2003. He said this decade had been marked by a visible accretion in the influence and impact of the global Indian across the world. There had been a steady growth in their numbers, levels of prosperity and their skills, he said.
He said the Government and people of India recognized and greatly valued the important role being played by Indian communities living abroad.
"We believe that the Indian diaspora has much more to contribute to the building of modern India. We propose to facilitate, encourage and promote this engagement. Over the past year we have taken a number of steps towards this end," he said.
The Prime Minister said that, pursuant to the law that was enacted to enable NRIs to vote in national elections, the Government had issued notifications for registration of overseas Indians under the Representation of People Act, 1950. This constituted the first major step to enable Indians resident abroad to participate in the country's election processes.
He said that, in the last session of Parliament, the Government had introduced a Bill intended to merge and streamline the People of Indian Origin and Overseas Citizen of India schemes by amending the Citizenship Act.
He said this would rectify some of the anomalies in the schemes and provide for an Overseas Indian Card which will be given to foreign spouses of such card holders as well.
He said a large number of workers from Rajasthan were emigrating abroad and the Government had accordingly established an office of the Protector of Emigrants in Jaipur.
"I am told that the Government of Rajasthan proposes to build a Pravasi Bharatiya Bhawan in Jaipur. This Bhawan will house the offices of not only the Protector of Emigrants but also a Migrant Resource Centre to provide on-site help to overseas Indians and emigrating workers," he said.
Singh said the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs was implementing the e-migrate project that will provide end-to-end computerized solutions for all processes in the emigration system. The system will link all key stakeholders on a common platform which will be used by workers, offices of the protector of emigrants, recruitment agencies, immigration officials, employers and the Indian missions abroad.
He said the scope of the country's Labour Mobility Partnership Agreements was being expanded to cover not only skilled workers but also students, academics and professionals. Such Human Resource Mobility Partnership agreements are being negotiated with The Netherlands, France, Australia and the European Union, he said.
He said the Government had decided to introduce and sponsor a new Pension and Life Insurance Fund for overseas Indian workers. The scheme will encourage, enable and assist overseas workers to voluntarily save for their return and resettlement and old age. It will also provide a low-cost life insurance cover against natural death. "This scheme fulfills a long pending demand of our workers abroad," he said.
"We are acutely conscious of the safety and security of Indians living abroad, particularly in regions characterized by instability," he said.
He said there were over six million Indians living in the Gulf and West Asia. "We need to be alert to the unfolding developments in this part of the world. We have conveyed to the countries of the region that we have a stake in the peace and stability of this region, and that we expect that they would appropriately look after the interests of Indian communities in their countries," he said.
He recalled that, following the upheaval in Libya last year, the Government had undertaken Operation Safe Homecoming to evacuate more than 16,000 people from the strife-torn areas through special flights, passenger and naval vessels. Similar evacuations were carried out in Egypt and Yemen on a lower scale. "We stand ready to extend such help elsewhere should the need arise," he said.
Singh said that, last year, the Government had constituted an inter-Ministerial Committee under the Cabinet Secretary to make recommendations on issues relating to repatriation, relief and rehabilitation of Indian nationals affected by recent developments in West Asia. The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has prepared an Action Plan to implement its recommendations.
"The world is passing through a difficult phase. Many of you are experiencing first-hand the impact of the global economic slowdown. Employment opportunities have declined, there is greater protectionism and attitudes towards migration have also hardened. There is growing social intolerance even in more open societies," he said.
"We in India speak in different languages and follow different faiths. But Indian culture has a tradition of assimilating and accommodating diverse traditions, customs, beliefs and peoples. That is what makes Indian society, Indian civilization endure and flourish," he said.
Singh said the "global Indian" is a symbol of the diversity of India. "Your individual prosperity and personal achievement are a symbol of what a diverse people like us can achieve," he said.
"Many of your forefathers were forcibly taken away from India as labourers; some migrated in distress. Yet, today, the People of Indian Origin are welcomed around the world for the values they represent – values of hard work, values of excellence and enterprise and respect for their communities, their families and their neighbours.
"I welcome each one of you to India because I want each one of you to inspire our people with your creative example," he added.
President Pratibha Patil will deliver the valedictory address at the three-day event tomorrow and confer the prestigous Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards.
PBD-2012 is being held in partnership with the Government of Rajasthan with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) as the institutional partner.
NNN
