Washington, October 29,2004
PTI
India is exploring the possibility of investment by non-resident Indians
in some infrastructure projects of the country, Overseas Indian Affairs
Secretary SK Krishna Kumar said on Wednesday
The investment envisaged from various sources for these projects is
$150 billion, he told reporters.
Kumar also noted that overseas Indians have evinced a strong interest
in philanthropic and charitable activities.
"There is a very large and successful non-governmental sector
in India. Some of the overseas Indians have already taken the initiative
in this regard. Some of the overseas Indians have already been involved
in such activities in India for many years," he said and expressed
the hope that this would snowball into such areas as education, health,
village development.
Stressing that he wanted people in India and the overseas Indians to
"bond with each other," he said cultural focus--exchanges
between India and the overseas Indian community in dance, drama, music
and so on is important.
"We should also have some kind of internship programme or organization
like an India Corps or something of that nature," he said. "We
can set up a counterpart institution in India."
The dual nationality scheme, he said, has been approved but the process
of issuing it will probably take till the next financial year.