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OVER TO YOU, FOLKS...
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RESOLUTIONS ON BEHALF OF NRIs AND PIOs
RESOLUTION 1
RAJYA SABHA SEATS FOR NON-RESIDENT INDIANS
WHEREAS, the 8.8 million Non-Resident Indians living outside India constitute an important force and represent a tremendous resource in intellectual, technical, scientific, professional, economic, trade, and entrepreneurial excellence with high potential and interest to contribute to the well-being and prosperity of their motherland;
WHEREAS, the NRI community has emerged as an important factor in promoting India’s interest, in shaping relations between “host” and the “home” countries and in steering a dynamic shift in India’s economic and political advantage in the world affairs;
THEREFORE, GOPIO urges the Government of India to nominate a few prominent NRIs as members of the Rajya Sabha (the Upper House of Parliament) so as to reinforce and further integrate the bonds between India and the overseas
NRI/PIO community.
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These resolutions were presented to Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Oscar Fernandes on January 8 by GOPIO chairman Thomas Abraham, GOPIO president Inder Singh (above) and GOPIO USA Coordinator Piyush
Agrawal. |
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RESOLUTION 2
VOTING RIGHTS FOR INDIAN CITIZENS LIVING OUTSIDE INDIA
WHEREAS, more than 40% of the Indians living outside India are still citizens of India; WHEREAS, most of the countries provide opportunities for their citizens living outside their countries to participate in the election process of their countries;
WHEREAS, India is yet to establish a mechanism to provide such an opportunity for it’s citizens numbering about 8.8 million of the 22 million Indian Diaspora;
WHEREAS, the NRIs are building the country’s image and enthusiastically contributing to the economic development of India, they should be allowed to exercise their rights of franchise as enshrined in the Constitution of India and should be able to vote in elections held for state & federal offices. THEREFORE, GOPIO urges the government to allow availing the NRIs right to cast the absentee vote and urges it to initiate the process of providing voting rights, through a constitutional amendment if necessary, to Indian citizens living outside India.
RESOLUTION 3
POLITICAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS OF NRIs/PIOs
WHEREAS in some countries with large NRI/PIO population, there are instances of extraordinary level of infringement of human and political rights including racial discrimination and unconstitutional means to suppress rights of the persons of Indian origin;
THEREFORE, GOPIO urges the government to formulate an effective and comprehensive policy and take proactive stand in accordance with the UN Charter on Human Rights, where ever and whenever such violations occur.
RESOLUTION 4
RESTORE “NOT ORDINARILY A RESIDENT (NOR)” STATUS FROM TWO YEARS TO NINE ON GLOBAL TAX OF RETURNING NRIs/PIOs
WHEREAS the NRIs/PIOs have remarkably contributed to the economic progress & growth by way of remittances and investment in bank deposits upon their return although the industrial and stock market investments are ruled by MNCs & financial institutions;
WHEREAS the interest rate on deposit is being reduced and the Indian Rupee getting weaker against all major international currencies resulting in wiping out the investment benefit;
WHEREAS GOPIO continues to feel the government is justified taxing any and all incomes generated within India by returning NRIs/PIOs, the tax exemption on global income should be reverted to the 2002 period and earlier. This would encourage greater cooperation of 22 million NRIs/PIOs.
THEREFORE, GOPIO urges that the NOR global tax (under section-6-6) exemption of two years be restored back to the original nine years, as was the case before the change brought out in the Finance Bill 2003. Even former Finance Minister had withdrawn a very similar change in 1998.
RESOLUTION 5
Protection of Commercial Real Estate Investments
WHEREAS, PIOs & NRIs are committed to contribute financially and otherwise to the growth & progress of India, and
WHEREAS, they have substantially invested in the Commercial Real Estate, and
WHEREAS, the practices and the laws in India do not provide enough relief to the investors when the tenants refuse to honor their agreements to pay the rents or vacate the premises, and
WHEREAS, the PIOs/NRIs investors find themselves helpless in protecting their investments,
THEREFORE, GOPIO urges the government to enact legislation to protect the investors and set a mechanism where the violations can be brought to the attention of appropriate state and central authorities for relief.
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More...
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February 2006
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