Khaleej Times
Staff Reporter
12 March 2009 SHARJAH - The UAE-based Pravasi Bandhu Welfare Trust has demanded political parties in India to declare a special package to rehabilitate the Gulf returnees.
In an open letter, the trust has also urged them to consider the case of non-resident Indians (NRIs) earning foreign currency on a par with exporters and offer them the same benefits enjoyed by exporters and those bringing foreign direct investment to the country. Chairman of the trust K. V. Shamsudheen said Indian expatriates working abroad sent home US$27 billion in 2007 to make India the top receiver of migrant remittances, according to a March 2008 World
Bank report.
“Thanks to Indian rupee exchange advantage in 2008, it went up to US$32 billion. The main source of these remittances is the lower and middle income Indian workers in the Middle East with its estimated five million NRI workers,” the letter sent on Sunday pointed out.
“When five million Indians leave the country to work abroad, they are giving opportunity to provide jobs to the same number of people in India. The NRI remittances are over three times the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India.
“We believe the Indian government must look after NRIs more than foreign investors. Foreign direct investors are getting a red carpet welcome and many incentives, but the NRIs are not getting any such incentives or support,” it added.
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