• Prabhjot Singh

BHUBNESWAR (TIP): The security and safety of Indian nationals anywhere in the world get top priorities of the Union Government Senior officials of the Ministry of External Affairs and the Odisha Government held that the Union Government was fully conscious of its duties and responsibilities towards Indian nationals.

“If Indian nationals face any problems anywhere, the government of India is there to protect and assist them. We have been cautioning people against falling prey to unauthorized manpower agents,’ says Arun K. Chatterjee, Secretary of the Union Ministry of External Affairs.

He said that the institution of PBD has been serving as an integral part of bonding between the Government of India and a strong overseas Indian community.

Talking to the media after the three-day Pravasi Bharati Divas 2025, Arun K. Chatterjee was joined by the Chief Secretary of Odisha, Manoj Ahuja, and other senior functionaries of both the Union Ministry of External Affairs and the Odisha government. They were unanimous in their briefing that the three-day mega event organized by the Odisha Government was a roaring success “as we have got very positive feedback from all sections, including participants.”

They were, however, confronted by some unsavory questions, especially about the denial of invitations to parents and other family members of overseas Indians belonging to Odisha.

They assailed the organizers for ignoring the claims of the local people as participants in the mega event.

Manoj Ahuja held that the Odisha Government had focused on promoting tourism as most of the delegates visited almost all 31 places of historic and religious interest. “They all were happy with the hospitality of Odisha and arrangements made for the smooth conduct of the mega event.”

Since Odisha has emerged as an ideal destination for investment in various sectors, including tourism, the State Chief Minister, Mohan Charan Majhi, has announced a Nodal Minister as a single point of contact to facilitate seamless investments in the State.

Arun Chatterjee said that Odisha has emerged as a leader of five Eastern States as it abounds in natural minerals, sports, knowledge economy and other areas. It has tremendous tourism potential as it has been successful in showcasing itself as a potential investment destination.

Besides looking east, it also emerged as a strong destination for “chalo India” initiative.

Manoj Ahuja also revealed that the Odisha government would soon conduct a census of blue-collar job seekers working in the Middle East and elsewhere. Arun Chatterjee, while responding to another question on blue-collar migrants from India, said that the Prime Minister during his recent visit to Kuwait, held a meeting with 200 blue-collar Indian workers there. “It was a lively interaction,” he said.

Responding to a question from Prof. Indrajit S Saluja, chief editor of the New York based Indian American English weekly The Indian Panorama about the participation of youth in the PBD, Arun Chatterjee revealed that the union government was conducting almost every month a group of youth of Indian origin for a three-week Know India programme. Four hundred youths benefit from this fully funded programme of the Indian government. At the end of their visit to the country of their ancestors they feel “incredibly” connected to their roots, he said.

Arun Chatterjee and Manoj Ahuja were joined by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Kumar Jaiswal; and Ankan Banerjee, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, besides Sanjay Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary, Information and Public Relations of Odisha Government, at the media briefing.