MoS External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi launches “REDIO” mission to help Indian diaspora in need

New Delhi, 21st Feb: On Sunday, the Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture Meenakshi Lekhi launched the Global “Rescuing Every Distressed Indian Overseas” (REDIO) mission which aims at helping Indians situated overseas in every possible way, to make their life easier and better.

Lekhi was accompanied by Guest of Honour Ambassador and Former Secretary, MEA and Member, National Human Rights Commission Dr Dnyaneshwar Mulay; Ambassador Mukul, (former ambassador to Oman and Dean Foreign Service Institute Delhi; Dr. Ralf Heckner (Ambassador of Switzerland to India); Ambassador Gurjit Singh, (former ambassador to Indonesia and Germany); Dhanushree Patil (Global Ambassador, REDIO) and Capt Sanjay Parashar (Vice President, Movement of Positivity).

Meenakshi Lekhi in her enthusiastic address said, “REDIO will act as a bridge between government and the Indians living overseas, sometimes the formal system takes a lot of time, however, if we have such an informal body like REDIO then we will be able to help our people more and more. The REDIO will be filing the gap between the government and the people in need. Sometimes, an elected person is bound by protocols but I myself when it comes to helping people and doing my job, I don’t care about the protocol even if I have to interact with the peon to help a person. In distress, I like to interact one-to-one with the person who is in need so that I can help him as that person is also one of the voters who elected us.”

Guest of Honour, Dr Dnyaneshwar Mulay in his inspiring address said, “I am very thankful to Meenakashi Lekhi ji to be here on such a short notice and I am thankful to all the dignitaries. I have worked very closely for helping overseas Indians at the time when Late Sushma Swaraj was heading the office of Union MEA, and I myself have worked as an ambassador and secretary, MEA. There are many issues that our people are facing while living overseas, some of them are major. We have to create awareness amongst the people about their rights, people are not aware of their rights and that is why they are facing trouble. The women do not know their rights, they are being harassed by the employers and many of the cases are still not being reported. As far as students are concerned, there are 100K Indian students going to USA every year, which is why ambassadors are now supposed to hold a reception for Indian Students in these countries.”

Global Administrator of REDIO Dhanashree Patil said, “Sometimes the people staying in aboard are not that happy, that people of India think. There are many factors which Indians face and mostly workers. REDIO is currently in 18 countries and there are 20 advisors, we help the overseas Indians to get the passport, and in every aspect to get them to India safely. I am thankful to Dr Dnyaneshwar Mulay Sir for giving me this opportunity.”

Vice president of the REDIO, Captain Sanjay Parashar said, “I am thankful to every Indian who worked tirelessly in the times of COVID for the Indians who are overseas and need help to get back to India. We have brought 1600 people by charter flights back to the country who were stuck outside. I also want to thank Madam Meenakshi Lekhi Ji for responding immediately to the distress mails, phone calls, messages for the people who were stuck overseas.”

An attractive logo of REDIO was also launched by the Minister and the dignitaries present on the dias during the event. At the end of the event, vote of thanks was proposed by Rajat Kapoor, MD, Indian Diaspora Club and VP, Movement of Positivity.

Amongst the audience there were many diplomats, classical Dancers Nalini and Kamlini, Leaderships of NGOs , media persons, Trupti Dutta and Positive Kumar from Royal Roots, Uma Shankar from President House, Gajanan Mali amongst others. The program was streamed live from TEN NEWS Facebook and YouTube Channels.

Photo Highlights of Global launch of REDIO by Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi