JUNE 28, 2004
NILANJANA BHADURI JHA
Times of India

Early this month, the UPA government set up a new Ministry for Non-Resident Indian Affairs, signalling the growing importance of the India overseas. Congress veteran Jagdish Tytler , the first ever NRI minister, is now engaged in setting up shop. From drafting agenda, to finding office space, to smoothly severing the umbilical cord with the External Affairs Ministry. The minister says his first priority is to create a proper environment for NRIs to invest in the country.

The first very obvious question. Why a separate ministry for NRIs? Is it an effort to be one up on the BJP that had a big NRI focus?

In the last 20 years more people have gone abroad and after a struggle, have made a name, earned money. Basically Indians are better equipped in the IQ department. Any new invention or trend and Indians make use of it first – communication, software.

Also, we may be in America, Britain, but our roots make us turn back. In the last 10 years, China has developed into a major economy, most of it due to its people overseas. Israel has been built entirely by its Diaspora. Now, Indians are a very important community in the world – they are worth over 400 billion dollars. But their investment in India has been very haphazard.

Precisely, like the Chinese, why doesn't the Indian overseas want to make long-term investments in the country?

Because there has never been the right environment created for them. The NRI cannot afford to spend more than a week chasing things here. As the shadow, then Finance Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh met a lot of Indians overseas, as did Mrs Sonia Gandhi, and they said we want to invest in India but at least give us the environment to do so.

Nobody gave a direction, like the single window clearance they want. Now, if they have a problem they can come to me, I'll coordinate with all the other ministries. That is why this ministry came into existence. The Prime Minister is very keen on this.

So how are you working towards an environment for NRIs to think of long-term investments in India?

Well, we are trying to create economic zones in each state capital, especially those states, which have a large number of people abroad. We have had a good response from Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. I will be going visiting Chief Ministers soon.

We have to create conditions, where the NRIs can come and put their money and also take money back. The way we plan it, lots of jobs will be created. To expect them to invest in the country without giving them the conditions is not right. They should feel comfortable that they are going back to their country to invest. That they don't have to run about getting clearances from many different places.

There is this case – a man came seven years ago to invest here. Nothing worked out and for the last five years he has been running about trying to free his money. He finally met someone, me, two days ago.

What are the priority areas that you have identified? I believe a draft has been prepared for that?

Allocation of work is being done now. The key functions of the ministry will be:
To recognise the contributions made by overseas Indians in diverse fields and to leverage these invaluable human resources.
To tap their potential for contributing to economic growth.
To provide a single window clearance mechanism for facilitating participation of the Diaspora in India's economic, social and technological advancement.
To coordinate with other organisations for early redressal of problems of overseas Indians.
To provide protection to Indian workers and migrants from abuse and exploitation of any kind.
To educate Indian migrants on legal issues and international laws.

We'll be meeting next week to finalise all this.

How much NRI participation do you envisage in your ministry and in nation-building?

Well, they can now directly contact me. I'll be the main body for interaction. As for participation, they can play a role in infrastructure, roads, sports, hotels, hospitals – there's so much to be done.

The NDA government had cleared a bunch of schemes for NRIs. Will you push those through or bring some of your own? Who gets the credit, considering the NDA repeatedly said the Congress had done nothing for the vast and growing NRI and PIO population in its 40 years of rule?

There are a number of things pending for a long time. Largely investment related problems. The BJP is talking all nonsense. Did Vajpayee become a leader in a day?

Three important things happened in this country. It will always be grateful to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru for infrastructure – steel and dams, Indira Gandhi for the green revolution and off-shore search for oil and Rajiv Gandhi for communications.

These are the three Prime Ministers that have given the country what it needed. What has the BJP done?

What's the status on dual citizenship? Will it be extended to countries other than the 16 that it will apply to now? Many NRIs and PIOs have also raised the demand for voting rights...

The dual citizenship issue is all sorted out. But dual citizenship is only really possible where the other country allows it. Talking about extending it to other countries is Mr Natwar Singh's department. I cannot say anything about that. As far as voting rights are concerned, that is just not possible.

The US Senate India Caucus was officially launched in April this year. In countries like the US, where pressure groups can help shape policy, how does your ministry intend to strengthen these ?

That is again Mr Natwar Singh's department, I will not be doing anything that is under Mr Singh's jurisdiction. Let me look at it, perhaps we'll become part of it, where it addresses concerns of people of Indian origin.

Like the NDA, will you too have an ambassador at large in the US, or will that be you?

No, no. No ambassador at large. The world has changed. All embassies have become commercial centres. With the cold war over, the spying, planning and counter planning days are not there any more. My focus is completely on boosting investment.

I presume you will interact a lot with NRIs. A lot of who are Sikhs. The Akalis have already decided to boycott you in Parliament on the 1984 riots issue. Do you foresee difficulties or embarrassing moments abroad too?

I have not received a single complaint on this. Sikh leaders from London, US, other places have already come and met me or written letters that they are happy. The boycott is political. I still say today, there is no complaint, no FIR. Even if they can say that I was directly or indirectly involved, I will resign today. Do you know that I won my election because of the support of Sikhs in my constituency?

Will the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas, begun with much fanfare by the BJP, continue?

Yes it continues on the same dates in January. You know it commemorates Mahatma Gandhi's return to India from South Africa in 1915.

It has been criticised as nothing more than a jamboree in the two years that it has been held. How differently will you plan it?
Well it will be more business, less tamasha.