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Thirteen people of Indian origin from various fields were awarded the Prasvasi Bharatiya Samman on Friday.
Rediff.com speaks to a few of them about what the awards mean to them, what the government can do in the future for the Diaspora, and what more they can do in their respective spheres for Indians living abroad.
Sumit Ganguly:
On winning the award: It is a great honour to be winning this award, especially given the fact that only two people from the United States were chosen and also in light of the statue of the other winner - Professor C K Prahalad. It is a great
feeling. I will continue to be an advocate of India. That's the best way in which I can contribute - through my work.
On what the government can do: It is not people like me who need the government's attention. It is people who go to foreign countries in the hope of getting a better life and get exploited. Like the labour laws in the middle east. The government must take a much more aggressive posture simply because of their class and social status. It is very difficult for people who are not in the privileged position of say people like me who is a highly trained and skilled academic. The government has to really work for them.
On India's response to the Mumbai attacks: India is doing the right thing by doing whatever it has done till now, though I had apprehensions about India's response initially. India should continue in the same vein and keep up the sustained pressure against Pakistan with the help of the US, UK, and the international community till such a time that country responds positively. There has been very small movement on that front. The way Pakistan's NSA was sacked shows that Pakistan does not speak in one voice. So, one hopes that Pakistan does deliver but it will require a sustained
and concerted effort.
Baroness Sheela Flather:
I am honoured to get this award. But I don't think I particularly did anything on my own. It was because of my office that I was able to do all these things. The lesson here is that if you are an outsider, you can't do much about helping your community. I had a lot of support from the house of lords when I wanted to build a memorial for the Indians and people from the other colonies who had laid down their lives fighting for the British
in the second World War. I told the British that they saved you from Hitler. And there was appreciation for that fact.
On the government: The one thing that the government can do is try and stop corruption. In general and also especially when it comes to the Diaspora. If you want to get some paperwork done, or even if you want to do some charity work, you have to bribe your way. Imagine, someone who wants to contribute to India made to pay bribes to actually do it. That should change.
Future plans: I am working on a book on poverty about ways to bring about a change in eradicating poverty. With regard to poverty, everything has been tried. My idea is the last resort; it is empowering women. In our country, women are not empowered in all levels. That should come about. If there is money in the hands of a woman, not only is it better spent, but also the entire family benefits.
J R Gangaramani:
On the award: It is a great feeling to have received this award. My future plans for the diaspora are to do something about the labour problems, not only in UAE, but in the Gulf region.
I want to put checks and balances in the system that would prevent the harassment of labourers. I want to sign JVs that will not only help taking UAE to India in terms of investment, but also present India is good light in the UAE. India has a
lot more to contribute to the world. I want to take India to the next level.
On the government: I am not flattering, but the government has been doing all that it can, especially Mr Vyalar Ravi. He has set up a hotline for workers from the Gulf. They can call him around the clock. He personally answers their calls and ensures that help reaches them on time.
On recession and how it will affect the Indian diaspora: I am in the construction business. We have done a lot of risk analysis and we know our fundamentals are strong. But in general, talking about Indians in the gulf, things will be tough in the coming months, and a few people will lose their jobs. I am not saying it will be 100 per cent, but there will be 20 to 30 per cent job loss.