The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) was set up in 1989. / GOPIO

A pivotal resolution took center stage at the 35th anniversary convention of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) held in New Jersey’s Royal Albert Palace from Apr.26 to Apr.28. The General Body passed four resolutions, of which the prominent one included demanding full dual nationality for Overseas Indian Citizens (OCI) card holders.
The idea behind this demand is to make OCI at par with Indian citizens in doing business in India and provide Aadhaar Card to NRIs who are citizens of India.
A fourth resolution urged the Joe Biden administration and the US Congress to pass legislation to eliminate the backlog of Indians waiting for permanent residence in America.
All the four resolutions are designed to accomplish and accelerate the diaspora participation in India’s high growth in its ‘Suvarna Kaal (Golden Age)’, GOPIO said in a statement.
The convention primarily focused on India’s Present and the Future and what role the diaspora Indians can play in helping to realize this desirable future with a theme, ‘Opportunities for Diaspora Indians in India’s Big Manifest Future.’
The convention was attended by dignitaries like GOPIO-Edison president Pallavi Belwariar, Guyana Ambassador to the USA Samuel Hinds, India’s Deputy Consul General in New York Dr Varun Jeph, among others.
During his keynote address, Dr. Jeph highlighted that India currently holds the position as the world's fifth-largest economy, and indicated that the country will soon ascent to the rank of the third-largest economy.
Dr. Jeph said, “Indian Americans are playing pivotal role in the US economy with start-ups and other business ventures, while being just over one percent of the population, your contribution in the economy of over six percent.”
GOPIO Chairman Dr Thomas Abraham, in his address, asserted that since its inception in 1989, the organization had taken up issues of civil rights and human rights violations of the Indian Diaspora around the world. He also said that the Indian diaspora has achieved political mainstream in many of the countries with significant diaspora population.
Dr. Abraham said, “The 35 million strong Indian diaspora community is the fastest growing diaspora community worldwide spread into 180 countries and we are remitting over $100 billion dollars every year which has helped India to reach a foreign reserve of over $650 billion and this flow will continue in the same level or more in the near future.”