Voting rights, NRI zone, security issues focus of annual diaspora meet Being fed on a diet of empty promises with regards to their voting rights, non-resident Indians (NRIs) have finally something to cheer about as this time the good news comes from the country's premier himself who has expressed the hope that NRIs will be able to vote in India's next general elections in 2014. Describing the frequent plea for enfranchising overseas Indians as “legitimate”, PM Manmohan Singh, speaking at the yearly NRI convention “Pravasi Bhartiya Divas” attended by some 1,500 NRIs from over 50 countries from Jan. 7-9, said the issue is being worked upon. “To enfranchise such a sizable number is a step in the right direction,” Rajeev Shahare, Minister/Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India in Riyadh, said to Saudi Gazette. Describing the announcement as a “welcome step”, he estimated the total number of eligible voters at 1.5 million of the total 1.8 million Indian expats living in the Kingdom. In his speech, the PM said India has been negotiating with the governments of countries with large emigrant Indian populations to improve their welfare and protection, adding that pacts had been signed with a few countries in this regard. “There has been no agreement (pact) on labor issues between India and Saudi Arabia, although the issue was discussed during the Indo-Saudi Joint Commission in Riyadh last October,” said Shahare. He added that Saudi Arabia was one of the first countries to have Indian Community Welfare Funds, which the PM said had been “established in 18 countries for providing food, shelter, repatriation assistance and emergency relief to overseas Indians in distress.” Riyadh-based Syed Zia-ur-Rahman, CEO of Yahind.com, a web portal for NRIs, who was part of the delegation from the Kingdom at the NRI convention this month, in a memorandum submitted to the PM's office (PMO) and to the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vyalar Ravi, called for the setting up of an “NRI Zone” in states from where a majority of the NRIs originate that “could act as a magnet for overseas investments in different sectors.” “Together with the establishment of schools and colleges, the proposed NRI zones could become self-contained units catering to the educational, medical, recreational and consumer needs of the returnees. The government could also tap NRI investments in infrastructure projects, such as, oil and gas, construction, irrigation, education, etc.,” said Rahman. He said he has not received any response to the memorandum from the PMO, but “we had a detailed discussion with Vyalar Ravi, who assured us that he will consider all the points mentioned in the memo. We are regularly in touch with the minister.” Interestingly, some would question the right of NRIs to have any say in the politics of their country, given the general perception that they are individuals who left their country for greener pastures. “If we had enough employment in India, do you think we would leave our motherland for greener pastures? Away from our family, friends and culture? It is a well-known fact why Indians go abroad. Gulf NRIs do not consider themselves as NRIs, we are just Overseas Contract Workers,” said Rahman. “Since we are away from our country, we have no government contacts. We cannot reach political leaders, as we are of no use to them since we cannot vote for them. Our vote is a weapon which we can elect our leaders through and be part of the decision making process. If given the chance we can contribute our expertise to the country's economic, social and political reforms,” he said. Parameshwarappa, a Jeddah-based Indian associated with banking, believes that though enfranchising NRIs is a welcome move, which could have political impact, it may not have any effect on the economic front. “This would not boost investment,” he said. Rahman stressed on postal ballots and/or online ballots conducted under the supervision of the Indian Embassy and the Consulate as a practical method that could be employed to enable NRIs in the Kingdom to vote. “The best-suited methodology would be used,” said Shahare. Following the PM's speech, Minister Vayalar Ravi said the government is planning to introduce a Bill in the Parliament to facilitate voting rights for NRIs. In 2006, the government had moved a bill in the Upper House proposing amendments to the Representation of People's Act to make provision for enfranchising overseas Indians. The bill was sent to a Parliamentary Standing Committee which gave its report, which was later referred to the Law Ministry where it is pending. Under the existing law, the name of an NRI is deleted from the voters' list if he stays outside the country for more than six continous months. “We have not made any headway so far beyond the nomination of a lone NRI to the Rajya Sabha recently. On the other hand, the Filipino community in Saudi Arabia is ahead of us in these matters, as they enjoy the status of OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) with all the facilities, such as liberal concessions in customs duties, voting rights, representation in the Senate, special educational facilities for their children, etc.,” Rahman said.
