PRESS RELEASE
SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN, MINISTER OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS,
INTERACTED WITH THE INDIAN COMMUNITY IN GHANA ON 9TH JUNE 2021
Shri V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs
[MOS(VM)] held an hour long interaction with over 200 members of Indian
community based in Ghana today, in virtual mode. The objective was to engage
with the Indian community on their welfare and well-being, in the context of
the Covid-19 pandemic.
Representatives of the Indian community in Ghana (India Association
Ghana, Ghana Tamil Association, Ghana-India Malayali Association and Indian
representatives of local businesses – Olam Ghana and B5 Plus Steel) thanked
Government of India for repatriation of stranded Indians through chartered
flights, support for visa/ Resident Permit extensions and supply of ‘Made in
India’ vaccines under Covax and as a gift to Ghana that have benefited both
the Ghanaian nationals and resident Indians including the Indian diaspora in
the country. High Commissioner Sugandh Rajaram highlighted the Indian
community’s contributions in the development of Ghana and in strengthening
India-Ghana relations, and recalled the visit of MOS(VM) to Accra in January
2021 when he inaugurated the Pravasi Bharatiya Day (PBD) celebrations in
Accra.
MOS(VM) stated that the world has been ravaged by the pandemic
and India too has been deeply impacted. The Government swung into action
soon after the second wave started in India. To meet the increased domestic
vaccination demand, the Government enhanced its focus on vaccinating all. So
far, over 22 crore vaccine doses have been administered. The Government
ensured that poor & vulnerable sections of the society are not suffered
due to the movement restrictions imposed by various States to contain the
spread of COVID.
He added that the Prime Minister has personally been monitoring,
advising various Departments & State Governments of containment of
COVID, providing relief to the poor & ensuring the availability &
supply of medical equipment & essential medicines. He has been holding a
series of meetings with medical experts, vaccine manufacturers, doctors,
Chief Ministers & officials at the District level. The government also
facilitated faster imports of key medical devices by relaxing the conditions
for clearances, approved 25 new manufacturing sites for Remdesivir
production, decided to procure 1 Lakh Portable Oxygen Concentrators from PM
CARES fund, and 551 PSA Oxygen Generation Plants across the country through
PM CARES. The large-scale production of vaccines for both India and abroad,
our own indigenous R&D in the form of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and
DRDO’s 2DG, the countless trainloads of oxygen containers networking
tirelessly across the country, our intense engagement with foreign countries
to ensure timely supplies of medicines and equipment, and our own massive
vaccination drive in the country, are testimony to India’s firm resolve to
defeat the pandemic.
MOS(VM) paid tribute to India and its leadership that the fight
against the pandemic has been fought hard and is being won. The case load is
reducing, number of deaths are decreasing, and the recovery rate is healthy.
India is winning this fight convincingly. The Government is sensitive and
responsive to the needs of the nation.
On the economic front, MOS(VM) stated that the Government has
taken several measures to ensure that the growth of the economy is
accelerated. Recently, Productivity Linked Incentives schemes have been
launched in various sectors including Pharma, electronics hardware
manufacturing & White Goods (Air Conditioners and LED Lights) to make
Indian manufacturers globally competitive and to attract investment. The
Government is committed in its efforts to create economies of scale, enhance
exports and make India an integral part of the global supply chain in
various areas.
On various welfare measures, MOS(VM) stated that the financial
benefit under PM-KISAN has been extended to over 9 Crore farmer families.
Recently, an allocation of Rs 26000 crore were made for free food grains to
States/ UTs for distribution to beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Garib
Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY-III). He expressed confidence that India’s
economy will bounce back very strongly.
MOS(VM) expressed his delight to meet with the Indian community in
Ghana for the second time in 2021 and remembered his interaction with
several of the participants during the visit. He appreciated the active
participation of the Indian diaspora in Ghana in building and further
strengthening the bridges between the two countries. He emphasized that
today’s interaction was to reflect Government’s strong desire to continue to
engage with the diaspora closely, to reassure them and to be reassured of
their welfare. He also appreciated the initiatives taken by the Indian
community in Ghana during the pandemic and community’s desire to connect
more and explore avenues on giving back to motherland India. MOS(VM) lauded
them especially the Indians and the Indian owned companies for contributing
significantly in terms of economic and employment opportunities to the local
population in Ghana. He expressed happiness that ‘Made in India’ vaccines
have supported vaccination drives including supply of 6,00,000 Covishield
doses under Covax and donation of another 50,000 doses to Ghana. He appealed
to the members of the community to think ahead and wherever possible, give
more support to the economic development of motherland India that could help
accelerating India’s journey to become US$5 trillion economy in the near
future and meet the rightful expectations of millions of those who now
comprise the ‘new’ and ‘aspirational’ India.
At the end of the interaction, MOS(VM) answered few questions
posed by the participants and assured the community to all necessary help
and assistance from the Government of India.
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