NRIs to be listed on MEA databank

Many countries like Israel and China have devised schemes to bring their diaspora closer to their country and this includes a record of their people. However, in India’s case, it was only now that the efforts were being initiated to woo its diaspora.

Sources say that there is no databank of any kind that exists for people of Indian origin and the Union Government’s estimates are largely centred around the census figures of these countries.

According to officials, the database will help the government in devising a strategy for the Indian diaspora and will give them an assessment of what are the areas they may be interested in. Sources say that will help in creating a network of sorts with this important section that comprise several people of Indian origin around the globe who are at influential positions and can help in the furtherance of India’s foreign policy. Sources in South Block feel that the large Indian diaspora will help India in diplomatic fora too, once such a database is created.

There is a growing Indian diaspora in North America and Europe and a database will only help New Delhi in opening new avenues in trade promotion and will bring in more investment.

Besides, it will also enable the government to communicate with them easily in their country of location.

The comprehensive exercise is being planned through the Indian missions and consulates that will be asked to collect information on the Indian diaspora including their vocation, age, income size and professional details which will help the government in formulating an effective strategy for them.

In the first phase, the MEA will rely on the published material and sources that are present and will compile the date with the help of the National Informatics Centre. However, they may even hire private research agencies to conduct surveys to create the database, sources say, however the broad details are still being worked out.

MEA sources say that the database will also help them promote schemes like the Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) card scheme which were floated earlier by the ministry but could not be marketed effectively.