During the Lok Sabha discussion on the demands for grants for the ministry of external affairs, A Sampath, CPI (M), said there is a need to ascertain the exact number of Indians living and working abroad, and it is the government’s duty to protect their interests. We need post in Indian embassies such officers as are well versed in regional languages, improve the functioning of and provide better infrastructure facilities to passport offices, arrange more aircraft and more services for the passengers going abroad or coming back, and give the Indians living and working abroad the voting right. Funds must be provided for the welfare schemes for non-resident Indians. There must be coordination between the ministries of external affairs, overseas Indian affairs, home, finance, commerce etc. We must open more passport offices and provide sufficient staff in our passport offices and Indian missions.
In the course of his intervention, the member also warned against playing second fiddle to the US interests, adding that will not be tolerated by the people of India. We have to strengthen our relations with the third world countries.
Source: People’s Democracy dated 02-05-2010 (www.pd.cpim.org)
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