New Delhi: At a recent Parliamentary Committee meeting, a suggestion was put forth to give Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) representation in Parliament, considering their growing numbers and unique issues concerning the diaspora.
Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda cited examples of countries such as Italy, which has reservations in the legislature for its citizens residing abroad, to pitch for NRI representation in Parliament to cater to their issues in a better way, the PTI news agency reported.
Some NRI groups in the past have demanded seats in Parliament. As of now, NRIs cannot even vote from abroad and are required to come to India to exercise their franchise. A bill to allow them to vote through a proxy in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections was introduced in Parliament in 2018 but lapsed later.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who headed the standing committee, said: "We had a very detailed and thorough discussion with four organizations working with the diaspora. The MPs were very engaged."
Sources told PTI that the organizations participating in the meeting made some good proposals, including one from Kerala that said Indian organizations could skill people depending on the needs of any foreign country.
The organizations that attended the meeting were Norka Roots from Kerala; the Punjab government's Department of NRIs Affairs; the People of Indian Origin Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Delhi; and the Centre for Diaspora Studies, Central University of Gujarat.
