India actively working on creating comprehensive database of Girmitiya community: PM Modi
While addressing Indian community members in Port of Spain on Thursday (local time), PM Modi noted that the move will also support India's 'deep and historic ties' with people in Trinidad and Tobago. He recalled the participation of Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas.
He said, 'This year, when we hosted the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas in Bhubaneshwar, Her Excellency President Christine Carla Kangaloo ji was our Chief Guest. A few years ago, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar honoured us with her presence. At the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, I announced several initiatives to honour and connect with the Girmitiya community across the world. We are mapping the past and bringing people closer for a bright future.'
'We are actively working on creating a comprehensive database of the Girmitiya Community. Documenting the villages and cities in India from which their ancestors migrated, identifying the places where they have settled, studying and preserving the legacy of the Girmitiya ancestors, and working to organise World Girmitiya Conferences regularly. This will support the deep and historic ties with our brothers and sisters in Trinidad and Tobago as well,' he added.
PM Modi announced that citizens of Indian origin in Trinidad and Tobago, up to the sixth generation, will now be eligible for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards, allowing them to live and work in India without restrictions.
'Today, I'm happy to announce that the OCI cards will be given to the sixth generation of the Indian diaspora in Trinidad and Tobago. We aren't just connected by blood or surname. You are connected by belonging. India welcomes, and India embraces you,' PM Modi said.
He encouraged the Indian-origin community to visit their ancestral land and deepen their connection with India. 'I encourage all of you to visit India more in person, and not just virtually via social media. Visit the villages of your ancestors. Walk the soil they walked on. Bring your children and neighbours. Bring anyone who enjoys 'Chai' and a good story. We will welcome all of you with open arms, warm hearts and Jalebi,' he said.
He also praised the Indian diaspora in Trinidad and Tobago for keeping Indian culture alive. He said, 'They left Ganga and Yamuna behind but carried Ramayana in their heart. They left their soil but not their soul. They were not just migrants, they were messengers of a timeless civilisation. Their contribution has benefited this country culturally, economically and spiritually.'
'The journey of the Indian community in Trinidad and Tobago is about courage. The circumstances your ancestors faced could have broken even the strongest of spirits. But they faced hardships with hope. They met problems with persistence,' PM Modi added.
PM Modi said that India is the third largest startup hub in the world, and women serve as directors in nearly half of these startups. He stated that India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has revolutionised digital payments. He congratulated Trinidad and Tobago for becoming the first country in the region to adopt India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system.
'The World Bank has noted that India has lifted over 250 million people above extreme poverty in the last decade. India's growth is being powered by our innovative and energetic youth. Today, India is the third-largest startup hub in the world. Nearly half of these startups also have women as directors. Nearly 120 startups have achieved unicorn status. National missions for AI, Semiconductor and Quantum computing are becoming the new engines of growth. In a way, innovation is becoming a mass movement,' he said.
'India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has revolutionised digital payments. Nearly 50% of the world's real-time digital transactions take place in India. I congratulate Trinidad & Tobago for being the first country in the region to adopt UPI. Now sending money will be as easy as sending a 'good morning' text message! And I promise, it will be faster than West Indies bowling,' he added.
Trinidad and Tobago PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar also addressed the Indian community members. She praised PM Modi's leadership, calling him a 'transformational force who has refined governance of India.' She stated that PM Modi has modernised India's economy through his visionary and futuristic initiatives.
PM Modi began his first official visit to Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday (local time) with a ceremonial Guard of Honour at Piarco International Airport, where he was received by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar along with 38 ministers and four Members of Parliament of the Caribbean nation.
PM Modi has shared highlights from the special welcome in Port of Spain on the social media platform X. The video shows PM Modi being welcomed by his Trinidad and Tobago counterpart, Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Upon his arrival in Port of Spain, PM Modi was given a ceremonial welcome.
The people of Trinidad and Tobago greeted PM Modi with enthusiasm, dancing to the beat of drums and showcasing traditional music and performances that reflected a blend of local and Indian culture.
PM Modi also interacted with members of the Indian diaspora who had gathered at Piarco International Airport to welcome him.
While sharing the video on X, PM Modi wrote, 'May the friendship between India-Trinidad & Tobago flourish in the times to come! Highlights from a special welcome in Port of Spain.' (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
13 minutes ago
- NDTV
"Untenable": Centre As Nepal Objects To India-China Trade Through Lipulekh
New Delhi: India on Wednesday rejected Nepal's opposition to the resumption of border trade with China through the Lipulekh Pass, calling Kathmandu's territorial claims "unjustified, untenable, and not supported by historical facts." The statement came after Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs objected to the reopening of India-China trade through the Himalayan pass, a route that cuts through the Kalapani-Lipulekh-Limpiyadhura region. Kathmandu maintains the territory lies within Nepal, citing its map and historical treaties. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India's position was "consistent and clear." "We have noted the comments of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal related to resumption of border trade between India and China through the Lipulekh Pass. Our position in this regard has been consistent and clear. Border trade between India and China through Lipulekh pass had commenced in 1954 and has been going on for decades. This trade had been disrupted in recent years due to Covid and other developments, and both sides have now agreed to resume it," he said in a statement. Mr Jaiswal called it a "unilateral act" and termed as "untenable" the "artificial enlargement" of the territorial claims by Nepal. India maintains Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura belongs to it. Addressing Nepal's objections, Mr Jaiswal said, "As regards territorial claims, our position remains that such claims are neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence. Any unilateral artificial enlargement of territorial claims is untenable. India remains open to constructive interaction with Nepal on resolving agreed outstanding boundary issues through dialogue and diplomacy." Nepal shares a border of over 1,850 km with five Indian states - Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. On Wednesday Nepal said that the territory is its inseparable part and also incorporated in its official map. "The Nepal government is clear that Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani, situated East of Mahakali river, are inseparable parts of Nepal. These are also officially incorporated in the Nepalese map, included in the Constitution as well," the Nepal foreign ministry said. A joint document released on Tuesday after wide-ranging talks in New Delhi between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said both sides agreed to re-open border trade through the three designated trading points, namely Lipulekh Pass, Shipki La Pass and Nathu La Pass. The Nepal foreign ministry statement comes in response to questions raised by Nepalese media regarding the announcement by India and China to resume border trade through Lipulekh. "It is a well-known fact that the Nepal government has been requesting the government of India not to construct or expand roads and indulge in any kind of activity such as border trade in the territory," read the statement issued by spokesperson of the foreign ministry, Lok Bahadur Chhetri. "It is also well known that the Nepal government has already informed the government of China that the area lies in Nepalese territory," it added. "The Nepal government is committed to resolving the border issue between the two countries through diplomatic channels on the basis of historical treaty - agreement, facts, map and other evidence complying with the spirit of cordial and friendly relations existing between Nepal and India," read the statement. On June 18, 2020, Nepal completed the process to update the country's political map by incorporating three strategically important areas Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura areas by amending its Constitution.
India.com
13 minutes ago
- India.com
India and China are developing a special mechanism to tackle...,Trump should be worried because...
India china relations India-China relations: In a significant development between India and China, the two neigbours have agreed that like the Western Sector, a General Level Mechanism will also be set up in the Eastern and Central Sectors to address boundary issues. As a part of the mechanism, a meeting under will also be held soon in the Western Sector to discuss the border dispute. The update is seen as a step meant to strengthen dialogue between the two armies along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). What have India and China agreed for? In a news update that US's Donald Trump should see as a bad news, India and China have agreed for the set up of the General Level Mechanism which refers to Corps Commander level talks between the Indian and Chinese armies. How did India-China relations worsen? Notably, this format began after April 2020, when tensions escalated in Eastern Ladakh. Since the region comes under the 14th Corps of the Indian Army, its Commander represents India in these talks. What China said on boundary dispute with India? 'Regarding the boundary question, the two sides reached new consensus on conducting regular management and control, maintaining peace and tranquility in border areas, appropriately handling sensitive points, and initiating boundary negotiations in areas where conditions are met, Wang said on the boundary dispute with India. Story highlights: India and China have agreed for General Level Mechanism in the Eastern and Central Sectors. The two countries are planning to solve their border disputes. India-China tensions escalated in Eastern Ladakh in 2020. Recently, Chinese Foreign minister visited India. What PM Modi said on India-China relations? 'Glad to meet Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Since my meeting with President Xi in Kazan last year, India-China relations have made steady progress guided by respect for each other's interests and sensitivities. I look forward to our next meeting in Tianjin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit. Stable, predictable, constructive ties between India and China will contribute significantly to regional as well as global peace and prosperity,' PM Modi stated in a post on X.
Time of India
17 minutes ago
- Time of India
Gasification tech a mismatch for India's high ash content coal: Niti
New Delhi: The Niti Aayog has flagged the issue of incompatible gasification technology for the high ash content coal available in India, saying the on-ground progress on coal gasification has been limited despite issuance of letters of award. The government's think tank will soon hold discussions with stakeholder ministries as well as domestic and international experts to select the technology best suited for gasification of Indian coal to support commercial scale and viable deployment. NITI Aayog member VK Saraswat has written to coal secretary Vikram Dev Dutt, highlighting the challenges being faced by the public and the private sector in coal gasification and seeking the views of the coal ministry to firm up the roadmap. ET has seen a copy of the letter. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tom Cruise's Daughter Is Hands Down The Most Beautiful Woman In The World. The Latest Article Undo The government has set a target to gasify 100 mt coal by 2030 with a proposed investment of about ₹4 lakh crore. In 2024, it launched the ₹8,500 crore viability gap funding scheme to support coal and lignite gasification projects. Following this, it issued letters of award to companies including Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals, Coal India , Jindal Steel and Power , New Era Cleantech Solutions and Greta Energy. "Not much progress has taken place so far in terms of actual on-ground deployment of the project majorly due to selection for right coal gasification technologies and robust business models around it," the letter said. Live Events The Aayog is of the view that it is essential to match gasification technology design to feedstock properties for stable operations, energy efficiency and economic viability. Indian coal has high ash content, ranging from 30-45% and a high alumina-silica composition owing to which many global technologies available are unsuitable for gasification of Indian coal without adaptation. Coal gasification is expected to help India achieve energy security and self-reliance, reducing dependence on imports of natural gas, methanol, ammonium nitrate and other products. Coal gasification technology enables conversion of coal into synthetic gas, which can be used to produce downstream products such as methanol, ammonium nitrate, synthetic natural gas and fertilizers.
