By IANS
New Delhi : The cabinet Friday approved an India-Mauritius agreement in the field of social defence, which includes welfare of senior citizens and disabled, and drug rehabilitation.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed in November 2007, but the cabinet gave its approval to the document Friday.
The MoU includes devising courses and programmes on drug abuse prevention and care for the disabled, children and the aged.
India and Mauritius will also share experience and information on best practices and undertake documentation in the field of social defence and disability. They would also commission joint research projects and promote civil society networks to forge contacts and share information.
The Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius has become the gateway to Africa for India, leveraging its links with the Indian Diaspora. Majority of Mauritians are descendants of Indian labourers who were taken to work on sugar plantations there during the British colonial rule.
Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam was in India in January as the chief guest of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas – the annual event that celebrates the achievements of overseas Indians.