Pravasi Samman for Sunita Williams

New York: Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams will be conferred with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas conclave to be held in Chennai between January 7 and January 9, 2009. The award is considered equivalent to the Padma Bhushan given by Government of India and is given to outstanding NRIs/PIOs or nationals of other origin for their stellar contribution to the society in their chosen field.

In an exclusive interview, Vayalar Ravi, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs said recently in New York that last year itself her name was included for the honor, but the Ministry of External Affairs did not give the necessary clearance and also raised doubt whether she would accept the award. Subsequently, the Government had conferred the Padma Bhushan on her during the Republic Day celebrations and his Ministry has now decided to recommend her name to the President of India for the highest honor, he said.

Scientist JC Bose inducted into Pioneers Hall

However, Sunita could not visit New Delhi to receive the award, which was presented to her at the Consulate General of India in Houston on behalf of the Government of India.

The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has now geared up to tackle issues such as racial discrimination, ill treatment and abuse of expatriate Indian workers, human rights violations and provision of minimum wages, especially to those working in the Gulf region. The Ministry had made sure that the Gulf nations use fair labor practices and international labor laws to prevent exploitation, he said.

His Ministry has signed an MOU with Gulf nations to ensure that Indians who go there as laborers get a contract and a minimum wage so that they could take care of their family back home without worrying about their future. Also, domestic workers like nannies, babysitters and housemaids come under the purview of contract laborers and this would prevent any abuse on them, he said.

A slice of India in the Maldives

Highlighting the achievements of his Ministry since he took over as Minister on Jan 30, 2006, Mr Ravi said the MOIA has set up Overseas Indians Facilitation Center where NRIs can get any information they need in a very timely fashion without red tape.

"We have set up Prime Minister's Advisory Council on NRIs and PIOs and India Development Foundation consisting of well-known Indians living abroad. We have set up a free help line in the Ministry where workers can call and report any abuse, "he said.

Also, the Government has set up India Development Foundation as a single window for any NRIs and PIOs to help in the rural development of India. They can invest in infrastructure development, schools, hospitals, small and cottage industries and human empowerment in the village or taluk of their choice. The Foundation acts as a trustee of the overseas investors with zero overhead and also avoids the cumbersome Foreign Exchange Regulation Act for any investment in India.

"For instance if 10 NRIs decide to invest $1000 each to help their village or state, we help them invest in micro credit system to boost self employment of women. Their investment is ploughed back into the pool as the government agency collects money from the self help groups. This could bring overall development of villages. If an individual wants to build a school or a hospital in his or her parents' name, we complete the job with the help of local NGOs within the deadline to prevent cost overrun," he added. "This is one of the major initiatives of my Ministry."

He said the PBD 2009 to be held in Chennai would showcase not only the rich cultural heritage of Tamil Nadu but also its diverse industrialisation progress. The Tamil Nadu Government has been extending complete support for the success of the PBD-2009 and the Ministry is planning to bring prominent Tamils from the US and other nations to showcase their success stories. "The PBD-2009 will focus on how NRIs/PIOs can help India and how we can help them in return."

For more International news | For more Political news | For more Offbeat news