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The Indian Diaspora is a generic term to describe the people who migrated from territories that are currently
within the borders of the Republic of India. It also refers to their descendants. The
Diaspora is currently estimated to number approximately twenty million. Composed of
"NRIs" (Indian citizens not residing in India) and "PIOs" (Persons of Indian Origin
who have acquired the citizenship of some other country), the Diaspora covers practically
every part of the world. It numbers more than a million each in eleven countries, while as
many as twenty-two countries have concentrations of at least a hundred thousand ethnic
Indians.
The Diaspora is very special to India. Residing in distant lands, its members
have succeeded spectacularly in their chosen professions by dint of their single-minded
dedication and hard work. What is more, they have retained their emotional, cultural and spiritual
links with the country of their origin. This strikes a reciprocal chord in
the hearts of people of India. It is to nurture this symbiotic relationship to mutual
advantage that the Government of India, following the express directions of
the Prime Minister, had established a High Level Committee under the chairmanship of
Dr. L.M Singhvi, MP, with the mandate to make an in-depth study of the problems and
difficulties, the hopes and expectations of the overseas Indian communities. Given the
great diversity and global spread of the Indian Diaspora, it was a mammoth task.
The Committee completed it within the timeframe set for it, with the active cooperation
of NRIs and PIOs and submitted the Report to the Prime Minister on 08th January, 2002.
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Non Resident
Indians & Persons of Indian Origin Division
Ministry of External Affairs
ISIL Building
9, Bhagwan Das Road
New Delhi-110 001
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Content
provided by NRI-PIO Division, MEA
Last updated on 06 May 2002
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