‘NRIs attitude towards girl child must change’

Former Premier of Canadian province British Columbia Ujjal Dosanjh expressed concern over the ‘attitude’ of Indians living abroad which, he suggested, disfavoured the girl child.

Former Premier of Canadian province British Columbia Ujjal Dosanjh on Friday expressed concern over the ‘attitude’ of Indians living abroad which, he suggested, disfavoured the girl child.

“Whether the Indians are living in India or abroad, the problem remains the same,” Dosanjh said referring to the issue of discrimination against female child.

“Indians living abroad have adopted such an attitude that the numbers of females was going down as compared to males. The mindset of Indians must change so that imbalance in sex ratio is corrected,” he said.

“The neglect and torture of females from birth should end,” he said, adding that a campaign was needed to educate the Indians against female foeticide.

Dosanjh said that his wife was running a programme on sensitising people about the girl child in British Columbia.

The member of Federal Parliament in Canada said lack of basic infrastructure had prevented NRIs in Canada from investing in India, even as he stressed that the number of those who could actually invest was very less.

“Investment which can come from abroad is not coming due to lack of basic infrastructure, including roads, communication, hospitals etc,” Dosanjh said.

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“Government is aware of all these reasons,” he said adding that the capital will go only to that place where it can grow.

On efforts of successive governments in Punjab seeking investments from Punjabi NRIs living abroad, Dosanjh said that the number of those who can invest is very less, as 90 per cent of them are ‘commoners’ who can barely manage two square meals and basic necessities of life while living abroad.