THE Indian Diaspora has for long taken care of India's forex kitty.
NRIs consistently account for a major chunk of FDI inflows. Among the NRIs, it
is the component of semi-skilled labourers who save more and remit more back
home to India. To say thank you to them, the Govt of India has decided to launch
a pension and health insurance scheme.
According to the scheme any subscriber who contributes between Rs 1000 to
Rs 12,000 per year will be given Rs.1000 by the government annually. Women
working overseas will enjoy a special additional contribution of Rs 1000 under
this scheme as well. The scheme is voluntary and any overseas worker can opt for
it. The summit also had Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad, Minister of Health and Family
Welfare, announce that the government has been contemplating on allowing
Diaspora practitioners having post graduate degrees from the US, UK, Canada,
Australia and New Zealand to practice in India. The government has sought the
assistance of global Indians in increasing the share of health care in GDP to
2.5 percent from the present one per cent.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Mr Ashok Gehlot, has
announced the “Know your Rajasthan (Apne Rajasthan Ko Janiye)” programme at the
on-going PBD summit at Jaipur. The programme offers 90 per cent funding of the
travel and accommodation, of youth between the 18-20 years age group, of Persons
with Indian origins and NRIs to the desert state once a year.
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