New York: The Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) had submitted a memorandum to Prime Minster Vajpayee during his trip to the US.

While GOPIO has complimented the Prime Minister for taking the initiative in organising Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), early this year with the second one scheduled for January 2004, GOPIO has recommended that the PBD should aim at strengthening the emerging policy framework for a more cooperative and productive engagement between India and the Indian Diaspora.

The memorandum further stated that global Indians are being noticed and recognised in every corner of the world for their success in their chosen fields, but there exists a gap between the Global Indian Society and India.

The memorandum highlighted the issues that are increasingly being seen as vital to reconnect India with the Indian Diaspora.

In the memorandum, GOPIO requested the government of India to accelerate the legislation process and set up the administrative regulations and procedure for granting the dual nationality to qualified NRIs/PIOs.

GOPIO also urged the government of India to establish a Ministry of Overseas Indians similar to the Ministry of Overseas Chinese in China, so as to facilitate all NRI/PIO related issues and activities through this ministry.

GOPIO urged the Indian Cabinet to appoint a few prominent NRIs (who are Indian citizens) as Rajya Sabha members so as to reinforce the bonds between India and the overseas NRI/PIO community.

Other items included Rajya Sabha seats for NRIs, more economic initiatives to attract NRI/PIO investments, voting rights for Indian citizens living outside India and a pro-active stand on Human Rights violations of NRIs/PIOs in accordance with the UN Charter on Human Rights.

GOPIO also emphasised the government to set up a mechanism to help PIOs to search their roots. In this regard, GOPIO requested the government of India to host a website exclusively for the PIOs with details and particulars concerning the emigrants, their port of embarkation, destination, original village, etc from information stored in archives in India.

The website should include the assistance (document/search, local transport, guides/district administration, etc) which the government is ready to provide to PIO's travelling to India in search of their roots.

The state governments should ask its district administrations to assist and co-operate with PIOs seeking information about their ancestral roots providing with administrative assistance.

This will go a long way to help PIOs from other countries to explore their roots and eventually meaningful inquiry for reunification to establish links with the Motherland.

The memorandum was submitted on behalf of GOPIO International by Dr Thomas Abraham, President and Ashook Ramsarn, Secretary General.