Bengaluru, Jan 8 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said his government will soon launch a skill development programme for young Indians seeking jobs abroad.

"We will shortly launch a skill development programme, the Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana, targeted at Indian youth seeking overseas employment," the Prime Minister said at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2017.

Modi flashed a PIO (Person of Indian origin) card to say it supersedes the individual's passport as far as his ties to India are concerned.

When the PIO card is seen, "we don't see the colour of the passport but the blood ties", Modi said to huge applause.

Referring to Mahatma Gandhi's return from South Africa, Modi said this day marked the return to India of one of the greatest Pravasis and that his government's priority was to convert "brain drain" into brain gain".

"NRIs and PIO have made outstanding contributions. Among them are politicians of great stature, scientists of repute, outstanding doctors, brilliant educationists, economists, journalists, musicians, engineers, bankers and did I mention our well known technology professionals," Modi said.

'Develop India first'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the Indian diaspora to first develop India by investing and contributing its expertise in the land of its origin.

"To me, FDI means First Develop India through Foreign Direct Investment, whose norms have been fully liberalised for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and made on par with domestic firms for availing same benefits," Modi said at the 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (Non-Resident Indian Day) here.

Modi exhorted the diaspora to participate in the government's flagship programmes like Digital India, Make In India, Start-up India, Swacch Bharat (Clean India) and Namami Gange (Clean Ganga) for the country's all-round development.

"The diaspora can contribute to India by sparing their time and energy on implementing our flagship programmes and stay connected," said Modi in his 40-minute address in Hindi and English.

Asserting that engaging with the overseas Indian community was a priority area for him, the Prime Minister said the government was trying to convert 'brain drain' into 'brain gain' by inviting the diaspora to contribute their mite in making India strong and self-reliant.

"Brain drain has been considered a loss for the country as Indians went abroad seeking jobs and better life. But for me and my government, such a movement is not a brain drain but brain gain as they can help us in the development," added Modi.

PM hits out at 'political worshippers' of blackmoney, graft

Bengaluru, Jan 8 (PTI): Castigating the opponents of demonetisation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said those terming the government's move as 'anti-people' were the "political worshippers" of graft and black money which were making the economy, polity and society hollow.

"Friends you know we have undertaken a big responsibilty in fighting black money and corruption... Black money and corruption have gradually made our polity, economy, society and the country hollow.

"It is unfortunate that there are some political worshippers (rajnaitik pujari) of black money who term our actions against it as anti-people," Modi said at the 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention here.

"It is very saddening to see some black money supporters maligning the moves against corruption," he said while thanking the Indian diaspora for supporting the government's steps against corruption and black money.

Emphasising the role played by overseas Indians in the country's development, the Prime Minister said they have made an "invaluable contribution" to the Indian economy by investing over 69 billion US dollars.

"For me, FDI has two definitions one is 'Foreign Direct Investment' and the other is 'First Develop India'," he said, asserting that "I can say with full confidence that 21st century belong to India."

Referring to the earlier trend of brain drain, he said "we want to change brain drain to brain gain" and added that the government will soon launch a skill development programme 'Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojna' for the Indian youth seeking employment abroad.

Welcoming the efforts of Indian diaspora to strengthen the country's partnership with the overseas Indian community, Modi said "we don't see the colour of the passports, but the relations written by blood which matter the most."

Encouraging all PIO Card holders to convert their PIO Cards into OCI Cards, Modi said "we have extended the deadline for PIO card conversions to OCI from 31 December 2016, until June 30, 2017 without any penalty."

He also spoke about the various measures for welfare and safety of Indians abroad, from carrying out evacuation of Indians in distress to other steps taken by his government in last two years, specifically mentioning the efforts of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in this regard.

He also said that starting with Mauritius, his government was working to put in place procedures so that descendants of various Indian communities could become eligible for OCI cards, by addressing the difficulties of PIOs in Fiji, Reunion Islands, Suriname, Guyana and other Caribbean States.