Time Ripe to Engage Diaspora Proactively to Help India Achieve Development Goals Faster

If the Covid-19 pandemic has hit India much more ferociously this year than the last year, the Indian diaspora, too, has tried to rise to the occasion and extend a helping hand like never before to help India fight the pandemic.

Last year’s relief work by the diaspora got recognition at the highest level during the 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention held earlier this year when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked them for their contribution to the PM CARES Fund as well as to the global community.

The Indian diaspora’s contribution this time should be seen in both letter and spirit. The diaspora not only contributed themselves, but also engaged with larger communities in their adopted countries to raise donations as well as with their governments to step up their support to India, says Victor T Thomas, President & CEO, Canada-India Business Council.  For example, an independent senator for Ontario, Ratna Omidvar, demanded that the Government match Canadian donations to India. In the US, the Indian diaspora lobbied with the government and businesses to send more relief.

Another call from Modi to people of the Indian diaspora would not only be in continuation of his high-octane engagement with them, but also inspire them to step on the gas to proactively engage with India to help prepare for future waves of Covid-19, if any, and other emergency situations.