Tytler prepares single-window plan for NRIs

If you are a non-resident Indian and want to start IT-enabled services in India, or to open call centres, then the new Ministry for Overseas Indians' Affairs may just offer you the right opening.

Overseas Indians' Affairs Minister Jagdish Tytler has said these services will be routed through a single-window clearance scheme, from his department.

Furthermore, Tytler has also got in touch with the state governments of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Kerala and Maharashtra to allot land for a special economic zone (SEZ) for overseas Indians'-related projects to be set up.

"Actually, what happens is that although I may clear projects through a single window system, the matter gets stuck when it comes to state governments," he said.

While IT-enabled services and call centres find more takers in multinational companies, foreign direct investment (FDI) in infrastructure projects actually grease the bulwark of the SEZs.

"I have been reading papers presented during the two 'Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas' held in Delhi and have also been in touch with various industrial bodies, who have all said that overseas Indians are willing to pump money into schools and hospitals," said Tytler.

"We also found that what overseas Indians most feared was bureaucratic red tape. The fact that we will set up a single window clearance system for these projects, should inspire investor confidence," he said.

Tytler confessed that when he was first allotted the portfolio a few days back, he had regarded it as a sort of punishment posting.

"However, the PM put my fears to rest and said that the interests of overseas Indians were close to his heart," said Tytler.

However, he may run into foul weather as most ministers are possessive about their turf.

For instance, getting permission for overseas Indians to build hospitals will require permission from the Union Ministry of Health as well as state health ministries.

Same for information technology services, which will have to be routed through the Union Information Technology Minister Dayanidhi Maran, of the DMK.

"When I started the food processing ministry, I had to take elements from a whole lot of departments. I don't think this will pose a problem," said Tytler.