By IANS
New Delhi : In a bid to draw on the knowledge base of its diaspora, India will allow qualified overseas Indian professionals to work in the country, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said here Tuesday.
India will also sign pacts with other countries to exempt its nationals working there from making social security contributions, Ravi told the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas – India’s annual conclave to connect with its 25 million diaspora in 130 countries – that started Tuesday.
“Our approach is to permit overseas Indian professionals like doctors, dentists, architects and chartered accountants the opportunity to work in India,” he told the sixth edition of the event, being attended by 1,500 delegates from some 50 countries.
“This is not an easy task. It entails amending the relevant legislations and reaching a broad consensus among the stakeholders,” the minister added, while lauding the widely appreciated talent pool of the Indian diaspora.
The minister also said the scheme to issue Overseas Citizen of India Cards to members of the Indian diaspora had met with “tremendous” response with over 200,000 such cards issued by the country so far.
“We intend to take steps to expand its scope.”
The minister said plans were also afoot to enter into pacts with other countries to ensure that Indians working abroad are not denied the contributions they make towards social security, if their stay there is for less than 60 months.
Towards this end, the minister said, negotiations were on with several members of the European Union like Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and Norway to conclude agreements within this year.
In a bid to protect the interests of Indians working abroad and preventing them from exploitation from employers or agents labour pacts had been signed with the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar, he said.
“They permit steps to ensure the protection and welfare of overseas Indians working in all sectors. They also permit joint working groups to explore new employment opportunities for the workforce in India.”
The ministry’s target, Ravi added, was to sign similar pacts with Malaysia, Oman and Bahrain this year.