Ruling out any provision for a Non-Resident Indian nominee in Indian Parliament, Minister for Overseas Citizens Vayalar Ravi has asked the diaspora to make 'intellectual' contribution to their motherland along with financial investments.
"We want partnership with NRIs not only with money, but with their intellectual contribution to their motherland," he told a gathering of Non-Resident Indians at the India House in London on Wednesday night.
Asked specifically whether the Indian government would consider nominating an NRI representative in Parliament, the minister replied in negative. He, however, said the issue could be raised at the seven-day Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas commencing in Delhi from January 7, 2007.
"We are very much in the world arena and everyone is taking note of India as an emerging economic power," he said.
Referring to various measures undertaken by the Manmohan Singh government for all round development of the country, Ravi said that India was keen to involve NRIs in these plans. He noted that a number of leading NRI doctors from the United States had already agreed to adopt a village each in a couple of states to provide proper healthcare.
He said some of the NRIs had also opened speciality hospitals in Bangalore.
High Commissioner Kamalesh Sharma said, "Everyone regard us as the sunrise phenomenon of this century." He said Indians were doing very well both at home and abroad.
Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, has decided to declare the year 2007 as the Year of India, he said, adding that he would also open his representative office in Mumbai.