OCI, PIO cards merged -- PM in Pravasi Bharati Diwas

• PM Manmohan Singh announced the merging of the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and the People of Indian Origin (PIO) cards to facilitate visa-free travel to India, rights of residency and participation in business and educational activities in the country.
• The Prime Minister also announced the extension of the Indian Community Welfare Fund to all Indian Missions from the present 42.
• Dr. Singh said the government would soon give effect to a law that allowed Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to register themselves as voters.
• On the welfare of workers emigrating from India, the Prime Minister pointed out that besides the signing of Social Security Agreements with 12 countries and finalisation of Labour Mobility Partnerships with two others, the government was negotiating a generic arrangement with the European Union. 
• While welcoming the presence of New Zealand Governor General Anand Satyanand as the Chief Guest of this year's PBD, the Prime Minister regretted the passing away of management guru and member of the Global Advisory Council of Overseas Indians Prof. C.K. Prahalad.
• With the North Eastern States of India being the partner states for the PBD, the Prime Minister encouraged the diaspora to join hands with local and national efforts to accelerate the pace of development of this region.
• The Prime Minister termed the country's soft power an increasingly important element in its expanding global footprint. In this respect he wanted the overseas Indian community to support and patronise new cultural centres to be opened in the U.S., Canada, Saudi Arabia, France and Australia.