Text of the PM’s address at the Inauguration of the 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention at Bengaluru on 8th January, 2017
Excellencies and friends,
To begin with, let me offer our deepest condolences to the people and
government of Portugal on the passing away of Mr. Mario Soares, former
President, Prime Minister, a great leader of Portugal and a global
states-man. He was the architect of the re-establishment of diplomatic
relations between India and Portugal. We stand with Portugal in full
support in this hour of grief.
Your Excellency, the Vice
President of Suriname, Shri Michael Ashwin Adhin, Excellency the Prime
Minister of Portugal, Dr. Antonio Costa,
Shri Vaju Bhai wala, Governor of Karnaktaka Shri Siddaramaiah ji,
Chief Minister of Karnataka, Honourable Ministers, Dignitaries from India and Abroad,
And the most important of all, the global family of overseas Indians.
It is a great pleasure for me to welcome all of you on this 14th
Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas. Thousands of you have travelled from far-off
lands to join us here today. Millions more are connected through digital
platforms.
This day is a celebration to mark the return to India of one of the greatest Pravasi’s- Mahatma Gandhi.
ये एक ऐसा पर्व है जिस में एक प्रकार से host भी आप ही हैं, guest भी आप
ही हैं। यह पर्व एक ऐसा पर्व है जिसमें उसकी विदेश में रहने वाली संतान से
मिलने का अवसर है। अपनों को अपनों से मिलना, अपने लिए नहीं सबके लिए
मिलना। इस event की असली पहचान आन-बान-शान जो कुछ भी है आप सब लोग हैं। आप
का इस पर्व में सम्मिलित होना हमारे लिए बहुत-बहुत गर्व की बात है। आप सब
का तहे दिल से स्वागत है |
We are celebrating this event
in the beautiful city of Bengaluru. I wish to thank the Chief Minister,
to the Ramayya Ji and his entire government for his assistance and
efforts in organizing this event/ and making it a big success.
It
is my particular pleasure to welcome Excellency the Prime Minister of
Portugal, the Vice President of Suriname, the honourable Ministers from
Malaysia and Mauritius to the event.
Their achievements, the name
they have earned in their own societies and globally, are a great
inspiration for all of us. It also reflects the success, glory and
enterprise of Indian diaspora the world over. There are over 30 million
Overseas Indians living abroad. Their footprint is all over the world.
But, Indians abroad are valued not just for their strength in numbers.
They are respected for the contributions they make - to India and to the
societies and countries where they live. In foreign lands and
communities across the globe, irrespective of the path they take, and
the goals they pursue, the Indian diaspora represents the best of Indian
culture, ethos and values. Their hard-work, discipline, law-abiding and
peace loving nature are role models for other immigrant communities
abroad.
आप की प्रेरणा कई प्रकार की है, उद्देश्य अनेक हैं, आपके
मार्ग भिन्न–भिन्न हैं, हर किसी की मंजिल भी अलग है लेकिन हम सबके भीतर
एक ही भाव विश्व है, और वो भाव जगत है भारतीयता। प्रवासी भारतीय जहां रहे
उस धरती को उन्होंने कर्मभूमि माना, और जहां से आए उसे मर्मभूमि माना। आज
आप उस कर्मभूमि की सफलताओं को, उसकी गठरी बांध करके उस मर्मभूमि में पधारे
हैं जहां से आपको, आपके पूर्वजों को, अविरत् प्रेरणा मिलती रही है।
प्रवासी भारतीय जहां रहे वहांका विकास किया और जहां के हैं वहां भी अपना
अप्रतिम रिश्ता जोड़ करके रखा, हो सके उतना योगदान किया।
Friends,
for my governments and for me personally, engagement with the overseas
Indian community has been a key area of priority. I have met and spoken
to hundreds of thousands of our brothers and sisters during my travels
abroad – in USA, UK, Australia, South Africa, UAE, Qatar, Singapore,
Fiji, China, Japan, South Korea, Kenya, Mauritius, Seychelles, and
Malaysia.
As a result, as a result of our sustained and
systematic out-reach, there is new energy, keen desire and strong drive
among Indian Diaspora to connect more extensively and deeply with
India’s social and economic transformation.
The remittance of
close to sixty nine billion dollars annually by the overseas Indians
makes an invaluable contribution to the Indian economy.
प्रवासी
भारतीयों में देश के विकास के लिए अदम्य इच्छाशक्ति है; वे देश की प्रगति
में सहयात्री हैं। Co-traveler हैं। हमारी विकास यात्रा में आप हमारे एक
Valuable साथी हैं, Partner हैं, stakeholder हैं। कभी चर्चा हुआ करती थी
Brain-Drain. हर कोई सवाल पूछता था Brain-Drain, और मैं उस समय लोगों को
कहता था; तब तो न मुख्यमंत्री था न प्रधानमंत्री था; जब लोग कहते थे कि
Brain-Drain, Brain-Drain हो रहा था तो मैं कह रहा था क्या बुद्धु लोग ही
यहां बचे हैं क्या? लेकिन आज मैं बड़े विश्वास के साथ कहना चाहता हूं हम
लोग जो Brain-Drain की चर्चा करते थे, वर्तमान सरकार के initiatives उस
Brain-Drain में से भी Brain-Gain के लिए है। हम Brain-Drain को Brain-Gain
में बदलना चाहते हैं, और वो सब आप सबकी सहभागिता से ही संभव होने वाला
है, और होके रहने वाला है, ये मेरा विश्वास है।
NRIs’ and PIOs’
have made outstanding contributions to their chosen fields. Among them,
there are politicians of stature, scientists of repute, outstanding
doctors, brilliant educationists, economists, musicians, famous
philanthropists, journalists, bankers, engineers and lawyers. And,
sorry! Did I mention our well known Information Technology
professionals? Tomorrow, 30 overseas Indians will receive from the
President, the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards, which
recognize contributions made by them in various fields, both in India
and abroad.
Friends, E-respective of their background and
profession, the welfare and safety of all Indians abroad is our top
priority. For this, we are strengthening the entire eco-system of our
administrative arrangements. Whether it is on loss of their passports;
need for legal advice, medical assistance, shelter, or even
transportation of mortal remains to India. I have directed all Indian
embassies to be proactive to address problems of Indian nationals
abroad.
Our response to the needs of the Indian
nationals overseas is defined by Accessibility, sensitivity, speed and
promptness. 24 by 7, help-lines by Indian Embassies; ‘Open House’
meetings with Indian nationals; consular camps; twitter seva for
passport services; and use of social media platforms for immediate
access; are some of the measures that we have put in place to convey a
clear message that we are there for you when you need us.
The
security of Indian nationals abroad is of utmost importance to us. हम
पासपोर्ट का colour नहीं देखते हैं, खून का रिश्ता सोचते हैं। In
institutions of distress faced by Indian nationals, we have reached out
to ensure their safety, rescue and repatriation. Our External Affairs
Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj ji, has particularly been proactive and
prompt in reaching out to distressed Indians abroad using social media.
Under Operation “संकट मोचन” in July 2016, we evacuated over one hundred
and fifty Indian nationals from South Sudan within 48 hours. Prior to
that, we evacuated several thousands of our citizens from conflict
situations in Yemen in well-coordinated, smooth and swift co-operations.
And the last two years – 2014 and 2016, we facilitated the repatriation
of over ninety thousand Indian nationals from nearly 54 countries.
Through the Indian Community Welfare Fund we have assisted more than
eighty thousand Indian nationals abroad who were in contingency
situations.
Our aim is that for every Indian abroad, home should
never be far away. हम लोग छोटे तब सुनते थे, मामा का घर कितना दूर तो बोले
दीया जले उतना दूर। भारत कितना दूर, उसको लगना चाहिए दीया जले उतना दूर,
इतनी निकटता उसको महसूस होनी चाहिए। दुनिया के किसी भी देश में क्यों न
रहता हो, उसको ये अपनापन महसूस होना चाहिए। For those workers who seek
economic opportunities abroad, our effort is to provide maximum
facilitation and ensure least inconvenience. Our motto is: "सुरक्षित
जाएँ, प्रशिक्षित जाएँ, विश्वास के साथ जाएँ’’. For this, we have
streamlined our systems and taken several measures to safeguard
emigration of Indian workers. About six lakh Engineers emigrants have
been granted Emigration Clearance online for overseas employment through
registered recruitment agents. Online registration of foreign
employers on e-Migrate portal has been made mandatory.
And, the grievances, complaints and petitions of the migrant workers
continue to be addressed online through e-Migrate and “MADAD” platforms.
We are also taking strict action against illegal recruitment agents in
India. Prosecution sanctions by CBI or State Police against illegal
agents; and increase in the amount of Bank Guarantee deposited by the
recruiting agents from Rs.20 lakhs to Rs.50 lakhs; our some of the steps
in this direction. To ensure that the migrating Indian workers enjoy
better economic opportunities, we will shortly launch a skill
development program - the “Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana” targeted at
Indian youth who seek overseas employment.
कभी-कभी जो पहली बार
विदेश जाते हैं, ज्यादा पढ़े-लिखे नहीं हैं; अगर उनका वहां के देश की
आवश्यकता के अनुसार यहीं पर उसका 15 दिन, एक महीने का कोर्स हो, उसकी
development हो। मान लीजिए वो किसी देश में house keeping के काम के लिए जा
रहा है, अगर यहां उसकी training होगी तो बड़े विश्वास के साथ जायेगा। और
इसलिए ये ‘’प्रवासी कौशल विकास योजना’’ भारत से बाहर जाने वाले लोग एक
value-added अवस्था में जाएं जिसके कारण एक नया वश्विास पैदा हो, उस दिशा
में हम प्रयास कर रहे हैं, और उससे मुझे लगता है जो गरीब तबके के लोग
छोटे-छोटे काम करने के लिए जा रहे हैं, उनको ज्यादा लाभ होगा। कुछ लोगों
को उस देश के कुछ sentences हैं, कुछ उस देश के manners हैं, कुछ cultural
चीजें सीखने की जरूरी होती हैं। वो भी कितने ही पढ़े-लिखे व्यक्ति क्यों न
हों, उसको काम आती हैं; उस पर भी हम बल दे रहे हैं, जिसको हम soft-skill
कहते हैं। तो ऐसी व्यवस्थाएं जिसके कारण भारत का व्यक्ति विश्व में पैर
रखते ही उसको कुछ भी पराया न लगे; औरों को भी वो अपना लगे और उसका
आत्मविश्वास उस ऊंचाइयों को पार करने वाला हो जैसे वो सालों से उस भूमि
को जानता है; वहां के लोगों को जानता है; वो तुरंत ही अपने आपको set कर
सकता है, तो उस रूप में उसकी चिन्ता, व्यवस्था हम कर रहे हैं।
Friends. We have a special bond with the Indian Diaspora which is living
in the Girmitiya countries – who are deeply and emotionally attached
with their place of origin. We are aware of difficulties faced by
Persons of Indian Origin from these countries in obtaining an OCI Card
if they moved abroad four or five generations ago. We acknowledge their
concerns and have made efforts to address these issues.
I am glad
to announce that starting with Mauritius, we are working to put in
place new procedures and documentation requirements so that the
descendants of Girmitiyas from this country could become eligible for
OCI Cards. We remain committed to addressing similar difficulties of
PIOs in Fiji, Reunion Islands, Suriname, Guyana and other Caribbean
States.
Like my request at the last Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, I
would again encourage all PIO Card holders to convert their PIO Cards to
OCI Cards. मैं बोलता रहता हूं, आग्रह भी करता हूं, लेकिन मैं जानता हूं
कि आप लोग बहुत व्यस्त हैं और इसीलिए ये शायद काम रह जाता है। तो आपकी इस
व्यस्तता को देखते हुए, I am happy to announce that we have extended
the deadline for such conversion from 31 December 2016, until June 30,
2017 without any penalty. From least of January this year, beginning
with airports in Delhi and Bengaluru, we have also set up special
counters at immigration points in our airports for OCI Card holders.
Friends, Today, there are about 7 Lakh Indian students/ pursuing
academic programs abroad. और मुझे भली भाति ज्ञात हैकि विदेश मे रह रहा
हर भारतीय, भारत की प्रगति से जुड़ने के लए आतुर है। उनका ज्ञान, विज्ञान और
भारत के ज्ञान का मिलन, भारत कोआर्थिक प्रगति को असीम उंचाईयों पर ले
जायेगा।
मेरा सदैव यह प्रयास और विश्वास रहा है कि सक्षम तथा
successful प्रवासियो को भारत की विकास गाथा से जुड़ने का सम्पूर्ण मौका
मिलना चाहिए, खास तौर से विज्ञान तथा तकनीकी क्षेत्रों में and technology
के field में।
इसके लिए हमने कई कदम उठाये है. One of them is that
the Department of Science and Technology is launching Visiting Adjunct
Joint Research Faculty or VAJRA scheme which enables NRIs and overseas
scientific community to participate and contribute to research and
development in India. Under the scheme an overseas Indian can work for
one to three months in an institution in India. And, that too, at good
terms और सब से महत्पूर्ण है कि प्रवासी भारतीय इसके द्वारा देश की प्रगति
का एक अहम् हिस्सा बन सकता है।
Friends, it is my firm belief
that connect between India and over-seas Indians should be sustained and
enriching for both. To meet this goal, in October last year, महात्मा
गाँधी की जन्मदिन पर, I had the honour of inaugurating the Pravasi
Bharatiya Kendra in New Delhi. This Kendra is dedicated to the over-seas
Indian community. We want it to become a symbol of the global
migration, experiences, struggles, achievements and aspirations of the
Indian Diaspora. I am confident that the Kendra will become another
important platform for crystallizing ongoing efforts of the government
to redefine its engagement with the over-seas Indian community.
Friends, हमारे प्रवासी भारतीय कई पीढि़यों से विदेशो में है। हर पीढ़ी के
अनुभव ने भारत को और सक्षम बनाया है. जैसे नए पौधे पर हमारे भीतर अलग से एक
स्नेह उभर आता है, उसी तरह विदेश में रह युवा प्रवासी भारतीय भी हमारे लिए
अनमोल हैं, विशेष हैं। हम प्रवासी भारतीयों की युवा पीढ़ीयों से, young
Pravasis से करीबी और मज़बूत और संपर्क और गहरा बनाना चाहते हैं।
To
provide the young Indian-origin youth an opportunity to visit their
Motherland and reconnect with their Indian roots, culture, and heritage–
we have expanded the Government’s Know India Program, under which for
the first time, six groups of young over-seas Indians are visiting India
this year.
I am very happy to know that 160 of these young
over-seas Indians are here today to participate in the Pravasi Bharatiya
Divas. A special welcome to the young Pravasis– I hope that on
returning to your respective countries, you will remain connected with
us, wherever you are, and visit again, again and again India. Last year,
the first edition of the online quiz competition for young overseas
Indians called “Bharat ko Jaano” saw participation of more than 5000
young NRIs and PIOs. In the second edition this year, I hope to see the
participation of at least fifty thousand young overseas Indians.
Young Friends, will you please help me in this mission? Will you please
help me in this mission? Are you ready to work with me? Then why we can
stop at 50 thousands?
Friends, आज भारत एक नयी प्रगतिशील दिशा की
और अग्रसर है। ऐसी प्रगति जो न केवल आर्थिक है अपितु सामाजिक, राजनैतिक, और
शासकीय भी है। आर्थिक क्षेत्र में, PIOs तथा NRIs के लिए FDI norms पूरी
तरह liberalized है और FDI की मेरी दो परिभाषाएं हैं, One definition is
FDI means foreign direct investment, and second is first develop India.
Investments by PIOs on non-repatriation basis; and by companies, trusts
and partnerships owned by them, are now deemed to be domestic investment
at par with investments made by resident Indians. हमारे कई ऐसा programs
हैं, जैसे Swachh Bharat, Mission Digital India, Start up India, जिनसे
प्रवासी भारतीय भारत के सामान्य व्यक्ति के प्रगति से सीधाजुड़ सकते हैं.
There are some amongst you who like to contribute in businesses and
investments. Others may feel more comfortable supporting through
contributions made to Swachh Bharat, Namami Gange and others.
Some others may feel motivated to spare their valuable time and efforts
in volunteering in India helping the under-privileged or contributing to
capacity building programs in various sectors.
We welcome all
your efforts that seek to strengthen India’s partnership with the
over-seas Indian community. I also invite you to visit the exhibition in
the Pravasi Bharatiya congention (PBD Convention) which gives you a
glimpse of some of the flagship programs that we have been implementing
and see how you can partner with us.
Friends, यहां आने के बाद
आपने सुना होगा, देखा होगा हमने भ्रष्टाचार के खिलाफ, काले धन के खिलाफ
corruption और black money के खिलाफ एक बहुत बड़ा बीड़ा उठाया है। black
money तथा corruption हमारी राजनीति तथा देश तथा समाज तथा शासन को धीरे,
धीरे, धीरे, धीरे खोखला करता रहा है। और ये दुर्भाग्य है कि black money
के कुछ राजनैतिक पुजारी हमारे प्रयासों को जनता के विरोधी दर्शाते हैं।
corruption और काले धन को समाप्त करने में भारत सरकार की नीतियों का जो
समर्थन प्रवासी भारतीयों ने किया है उसके लिए मैं आपका अभिनन्दन करता हूँ,
आपका साधुवाद करता हूं, आपका धन्यवाद करता हूं।
Friends, Finally, I
would like to say that as Indians, we have a common heritage that
brings us all together. And, no matter where we may be around? Where we
may be around the globe, it is in that common bond that we are strong.
और इसलिए मेरे प्यारे देशवासियो आपने जो सपने संजो के रखे हुए हैं, आपके
सपने हमारे संकल्प हैं और हम सब मिल करके उन सपनों को साकार करने के लिए
अगर व्यवस्था में बदलाव जरूरी हो, अगर कानून नियमों में बदलाव की जरूरत
हो, साहसिक कदम उठाने की जरूरत हो, हर एक को साथ लेकर चलने के लिए जो कुछ
भी करना पड़े, करने की आवश्यकता हो ये सब करते हुए मैं विश्वास से कहता
हूं 21वीं सदी हिन्दुस्तान की सदी है। बहुत-बहुत धन्यवाद ।
Thank You and Jai Hind.