PM Modi has understood difficulties of NRIs, says Rajnath Singh

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi understood the difficulties faced by Non-Resident Indians (NRI), and therefore, worked to merge the Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) schemes.

He said that the discrepancies in the PIO and OCI have been removed and an ordinance in this regard has been approved by the President of India.

"Prime Minister Modi understood the difficulties faced by you when PIO and OCI were separate. That is why when he went to US, he announced that he would merge the two, now he has removed the discrepancies in PIO and OCI. Even the President has now sighed on the ordinance," Singh said in his address at the 'Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas'.

He further praised the NRI's for earning good name for the nation by their hard work, dedication and commitment.

"We want to say that we are proud of you. Wherever you went you have earned good name for the country. You did it because of your hard work, dedication and commitment. Your contribution is invaluable," he said.

"You might be 'pravasi' but you are 'swadeshi'," he added.

Fifteen prominent NRIs, including Microsoft CEO Satyanarayan Nadella and Guyana President Donald Rabindernauth Ramaotar are likely to receive Pravasi Bhartiya Samman awards for their contribution in various fields on the last day of the Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas today.

Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas, which began on Wednesday, was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday morning. The three-day conclave is being held at the Mahatma Mandir complex in Gandhinagar to mark the centenary of India's, 'Sarva Sreshtha Pravasi Bharatiya', Mahatma Gandhi's return from South Africa to India.