Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today called up on the diaspora to make financial, intellectual, social and emotional investments in India, besides lauding the role played by Indian community in the US for making Indo-US civilian nuclear cooperation a legislative reality. Inaugurating the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the annual conclave of the Indian diaspora, in New Delhi, the Prime Minister urged overseas Indians to be active participants in the saga of great adventure and enterprise of building a new India, and take full advantage of the existing opportunities. “I would like you to reach out and invest in a new India. Invest not just financially, but intellectually, socially, culturally and, above all, emotionally,” the Prime Minister said. Taking a cue from the meet’s theme—Rooting for the Roots—Singh exhorted some 1,200 delegates from 50 countries, “Your roots are what bring you here. Your branches are what will keep you engaged year after year in India’s developmental saga. Come engage with the new India.”The PM also used the opportunity to thank the American Indians for the “stellar” role they played in the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal. “This (the nuclear deal) is an important step forward not just in India-US bilateral relations and also as an essential first step that will enable India to engage in cooperation in the civil nuclear field with other countries that are members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group,” he said. “This process will increase the range of options available to secure our country’s growing current and future energy needs. This initiative is therefore a vital input to the critical process of enlarging our developmental options,” he added.The Prime Minister announced the setting up of an Indian Overseas Facilitation Centre, which will be a source of investment advisory services. He also made a formal announcement that his Government was examining a proposal to constitute a Central Council for the Promotion of Overseas Employment for enhancing the skill of Indian workers. “It is time for the overseas Indian worker to move up the wage chain and India to be perceived increasingly as a provider of skilled manpower in diverse fields. A suggestion has been made that a professional body should devise an appropriate strategy to give shape to this idea,” Singh said. Singapore Deputy Prime Minister S Jayakumar, chief guest at the event, called for greater economic ties between India and South East Asia. Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi too lauded the role of American Indians in the Indo-US civilian nuclear cooperation legislation. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit was also present at the inaugural function.
