GOPIO Presents Memorandum on Diaspora Issues and Suggestions to EAM Jaishankar

The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) presented a memorandum outlining key issues and suggestions from the Indian diaspora to Dr. S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India, during his recent visit to New York, where he was participating in an event at the Asia Society.

The memorandum, presented by GOPIO International Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham, was compiled from feedback received from members of the global Indian diaspora and addresses a range of consular, administrative, philanthropic, cultural, and diaspora-engagement issues.

Earlier, a GOPIO delegation presented the memorandum to officials of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), including the Secretary responsible for Passport, Visa and Overseas Indian Affairs Amb. Sripriya Ranganathan and Joint Secretary Anken Banerjee of the Diaspora Engagement Division, at a meeting organized by the Consulate General of India in New York on September 26. The meeting brought together representatives of several Indian American community organizations, including AIA, FIA, AAPI, FOKANA, TANA, BJANA, Milan USA, Indian Diaspora Council, Friends of Madhya Pradesh, India Cultural Association of North America, Chhatrapati Foundation, Kannada Koota, and World Vegan Vision.

Key Diaspora Issues and Suggestions

The GOPIO memorandum highlighted the following issues and recommendations:

Broader Issues Raised at Consulate Meeting

During the September 26 meeting, representatives of participating community organizations also raised a number of additional diaspora concerns with MEA officials.

These included consular and passport matters, difficulties faced by Indian charitable and educational organizations in receiving overseas philanthropic contributions, cultural tourism and programs for diaspora youth, and banking and financial transaction issues affecting naturalized citizens of Indian origin living outside India.

The group also reiterated the need to develop mechanisms for Aadhaar access for NRIs and OCI cardholders and made suggestions concerning the establishment of memorials recognizing the history of Indian indentured laborers and an Indian Diaspora Museum in New Delhi.

Representing GOPIO at the September 26 Consulate meeting were Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman of GOPIO International; Mahesh Jhangiani, President of GOPIO-CT; and Prof. Raj Vanagapty, President of GOPIO-Manhattan.

The GOPIO delegation emphasized that the memorandum was not intended simply as a list of grievances, but as a compilation of constructive suggestions gathered from members of the global Indian diaspora to improve engagement between the Government of India and overseas Indians.

Dr. Abraham expressed appreciation to the MEA and the Indian Consulate for providing an opportunity for community organizations to present their concerns directly.

“The global Indian diaspora represents a tremendous resource for India. Our objective is to strengthen the two-way relationship between India and its diaspora by identifying practical issues and developing mechanisms through which overseas Indians can contribute more effectively to India’s development, while receiving responsive services from the Government of India,” Dr. Abraham said.

GOPIO plans to continue its dialogue with the Government of India and relevant ministries on these and other issues affecting the global Indian diaspora.