Three more NRI Universities to come up

Singapore, Oct 11 (UNI) The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs is planning to open three more Pravasi (NRI) Universities in addition to the one which has already been sanctioned at Bangalore.

Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas which ended here today, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said his ministry has put up the proposal for three more universities for the benefit of the children of Non-Resident Indians (NRI).

''The officials are working and once the cabinet gives approval, we will find the exact location for the setting up of these universities,'' Mr Ravi said.

The first NRI university has been located at Bangalore and will be run by the Manipal University in which 50 per cent of their seats will be exclusively earmarked for the students of NRIs.

He said no decision has been taken about the location of these universities, but getting land for them would not be a problem at all.

When his attention was drawn to the Tatas' Nano car plant moving out of Singur Mr Ravi remarked, ''Singur is not India.'' He said his ministry has been doing a lot for the welfare of Indian workers in the Gulf and other countries.

The ministry has signed social security agreements with several countries and is planning to sign with many more.

''This will help the labourers working in many European and Gulf countries not to pay tax on insurance.'' Mr Ravi, who is leaving for Malaysia tonight, would take up the problems faced by the emigrant Indian workers in that country.

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