UPDATE

Health, Education and Investment focus at PBD Day 2-
Malaysian investors could undertake 70-75% of the total project investments

New Delhi, Jan 08, 2007
Surinder Mehta

Two Plenary sessions and three concurrent sessions carried forward the agenda on Day 2 of the 6th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, jointly organized by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, the Government of the NCT of Delhi and the Confederation of Indian Industry in New Delhi. Social development, especially with respect to women's empowerment, health and education, as well as culture, investment and infrastructure were the focal areas of the day.

• At the plenary session 'Social Development Challenges in India: Health and Education', Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Government of India announced that the Central Government is ready to fund 75% of the health insurance premium for people below the poverty line. The Government has increased the outlay on these sectors in the 11th Five-Year Plan for provision of healthcare services from 1% to 2% of GDP and that on education from 7.8% to 19.4% of GDP.

• Ms Rajashree Birla, Chairperson, Aditya Birla Centre, underscored the enormous potential for PIOs to render support in areas such as medical research, telemedicine, scholarships and partnerships with other government and non-governmental agencies. Mr Analjit Singh, Chairman, Max India Group of Companies, India stressed on developing infrastructure to ensure better provision of healthcare to rural India. Detailing the various initiatives of the Sankara Nethralaya such as teleophthalmology, Dr S S Badrinath, Chairman Emeritus, Sankara Nethralaya encouraged the diaspora to provide similar facilities in other parts of the country.
• Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, USA: Dr Hemant Kumar Patel, President, Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, USA and Prof Dr Ruby Pawankar, Nippon Medical School, Japan & Treasurer, Board of Directors, World Allergy Organization; Chair, ARIA-WHO Initiative Asia Pacific Affiliate, Director, Asian Allergy Asthma Foundation, Japan also outlined the concerted endeavours of NRIs and PIOs for the development of healthcare services in India including effective delivery of rural healthcare. Dr Thomas Abraham Chairman, GOPIO Inc, USA recommended setting up of a Facilitation Centre for Social Development by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs to channel funds for social development. Prof Deepak Nayyar, Member, Knowledge Commission and former Vice-Chancellor, University of Delhi, India suggested that the principal challenges in social development of India could be addressed through improving the access and delivery mechanisms and by ensuring expansion, excellence and inclusion in the education sector.
• Plenary 2 focused on Investment and Infrastructure. Mr Priyaranjan Dasmunshi, Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, "India stands at the threshold of an unprecedented growth," offering huge investment potential in the infrastructure sector. Upholding democratic values and accountability, environmental sustainable growth and interests of the common people of the country are a priority. He highlighted developments under the Prime Minister's Gram Sadak Yojana over the last three to four years in building roads and connecting rural India with the mainstream.
• Dato Seri S Samy Vellu, Cabinet Minister of Works, Government of Malaysia & President, Malaysian Indian Congress, proposed 'intercity expressways' as a first step of involvement of Malaysian investors in India. Malaysian government would also support these projects in India, he said. He assured that Malaysian investors could undertake 70-75% of the total project investments. Malaysian companies can also build townships in India. He ended with the hope that people of Indian origin in Malaysia would change the infrastructure landscape in India.
• Mr Sunil Kant Munjal, Chairman, Hero Group, said that there are many positives for the Indian economy, but infrastructure challenges should be overcome to ensure a steady and high growth in India. Mr G V Sanjay Reddy, Panel Member and Vice-Chairman, GVK Group, India spoke of the enormous changes in infrastructure scenario in India. Mr M Rajaram, panellist and Chairman, Singapore India Chamber of Commerce and Senior Director, Straights Law Practice LLC, Singapore noted that there is 'infrastructure deficit' in India and this is an opportunity for investors. The PPP concept should be extended to PPPP, or the Pravasi Public Private Partnership, he said. He suggested a 'fund based' approach of financing infrastructure projects in India. Mr Vinayak Chatterje, panellist and Managing Director, Feedback Ventures, pointed out that infrastructure has been the most regulated sector in India. The major lacunae are the lack of 'bankable projects' and non-availability of finance in this sector.

• Ms Meira Kumar, Hon'ble Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment "Gender equality is essential for social justice," at the concurrent session on Challenges in Women Empowerment and Leadership. Ms Kumar stressed on the factors of education, right to information, "legal protection combined with social awareness" as key to women empowerment.

• Dr Girija Vyas, Chairperson, National Commission for Women, India said that the biggest hurdle to women empowerment is education and literacy. Ms Brinda Karat, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha called for starting a "political process of disempowerment of forces" who use education and awareness as tools to connive in women harassment, abuse and torture. Expressing her concern over the issues of fraudulent NRI marriages, abuse of women domestic help overseas, Ms Karat called for the signing of the Hague Convention of International Laws. Ms Krishna Tirath, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha also reiterated that women should be empowered socially, politically and economically. Ms Mallika Sarabhai, the noted danseuse and social activist asked for a change of "patriarchal, traditional mindset" for any law to be fruitful. Ms Anu Peshwaria, President, Seva Legal Aid Organisation, USA, and Ms Rohini Muthuswami, Coordinator, ASHA India, called for more legal and educational awareness and access for women.

• Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan, Former Secretary Department of Culture, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, said Indian culture should be extended geographically and dimensionally throughout the whole world and Indian diaspora has a big role to play in it. Ms. Ambika Soni, Minister of Arts and Culture, promised to encourage the institutions and training centers promoting cultural activity by monetary support and other supports. She also proposed district level museums emphasized the need of pooling diaspora resources of manpower, expertise and funding to promote Indian culture globally so the world can experience the rich tradition of Indian culture.

• Dr. Shashi Tharoor, the writer and former UN Under Secretary General, urged the private sector to join hands with Government to build infrastructure and institutions to promote India's culture. Indian diaspora should defend, preserve and promote culture globally.

• Mr. Mahendra Gowressoo, Minister of Arts and Culture, Mauritius, acknowledged the diversity of Indian culture and its impact on social and economic development of Chota Bharat i.e. Mauritius. He also said that Overseas Indians should collaborate with greater effort to empower Indian culture globally. Dr. M.J Warsi, Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages & Literature, University of Washington, USA urged forming a committee to support cultural promotion with the help of the Government and Indian diaspora.

• Mr. Shekhar Kapoor, the Film Producer and Director, said that technology and media are the main mechanisms to deliver culture. As Indian consumers are coming to the center of the world, India's culture is also increasingly impacting world culture.
• On Knowledge Economy- Mr Kapil Sibal, Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences underscored the need for developing an eco-system of education excellence with in-built features to meet differential regional requirements. Classifying conversion of financial budgetary allocation to its tangible utilisation as a challenge, he emphasized the role of the diaspora in leveraging the knowledge integration of the Indian economy into the global economy.
• Outlining the Government's initiatives and commitment in building and sustaining knowledge capacity, Dr Sam Pitroda, Chairman, National Knowledge Commission, explained the role of the National Knowledge Commission and spoke about the five-fold increase for education under the 11th 5-year plan. He urged the diaspora to come forward and encourage the formulation of Public Private Partnerships.

• Dr Balaji Sadasivan, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, Singapore recommended that Singapore could serve as an extension in East and South East Asia by providing an apt environment for corporate growth. Dato Vijay Eswaran, Group Managing Director, Qi Group of Companies, Hong Kong, enumerated that apart from the pertinent issue of setting the knowledge agenda, it was also necessary to design its implementation plan. Mr Ravi Seethapathy, Chair, Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, Canada, highlighted knowledge approach, exchange, management and network as the primary mechanics for addressing issues like NGO and local empowerment.

Citing the levitating aspiration levels of individuals, Dr Som Mittal, President, NASSCOM, felt that the real challenge lay not just in building literacy capacity but also in transforming this capacity for utilization by industry. Mr Vijay K Thadani, Chief Executive Officer, NIIT Ltd, India emphasized the need to boost employability both within and outside India. Mr R R Shah, Former Member-Secretary, Planning Commission, suggested a multi-pronged approach encompassing implementation, innovation and skills development in building India as a knowledge economy.

 

Dato Seri S Samy Vellu, Cabinet Minister of Works, Government of Malaysia & President, Malaysian Indian Congress
Malaysian investors could undertake 70-75% of the total project investments