Dubai: Non-Resident Indians in the UAE said they are not interested in the Bharatiya Pravasi Diwas (BPD) being held in the Indian capital of New Delhi.
In comments expressing disillusionment with the event, some non-resident Indians (NRIs) told Gulf News it had become no more than a networking opportunity for businessmen and wealthy People of Indian Origin (PIOs).
"There is no point keeping track of what goes on and who is saying what at the BPD. All the Indian ministers only concentrate on the People of Indian Origin residing in rich European countries," said Madhu, a Dubai bank employee.
The three-day BPD held every January is intended to provide a platform for non-resident Indians living in 101 countries and an opportunity for the government to build a strong and sustainable partnership with the overseas Indian community.
Supriya Shah, a Dubai housewife, said: "NRIs in the Gulf are disgruntled because so far nothing has been done to improve their lot. Blue collar workers in the Gulf continue to be taken for a ride by unscrupulous agents and are still paid low wages."
K. Kumar, convenor of the Indian Community Welfare Committee who attended the event last year, said that the major focus at the event is on the needs of People of Indian Origin.
"Indians living in the Gulf are not given any special treatment because although we live outside India we are still Indians. This is because we do not have the option to take dual nationality," said Kumar.
"Today the NRI Day has become more of a platform for Indian businessmen to conduct their networking," he added.
Ram Buxani, executive vice-chairman of Dubai-based ITL-Cosmos, said the idea of setting up an Overseas Ministry for Indians is definitely good but it should be consistent.
"In my personal opinion I think that is not happening. Ministers and even bureaucrats are changed every other day in the ministry."
Bharatbhai Shah, a prom-inent Dubai-based Indian businessman and social worker, said that he had lost interest in participating in the event.
"Why should I go all the way to New Delhi and listen to the ministers only paying attention to the PIOs from rich countries? For the Gulf NRIs they only extend a bag of false promises. I forwarded the grievances and demands of Gulf NRIs to the office of the Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi but so far nothing has been done."
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