Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held a videoconference with the Heads of all of India’s Embassies and High Commissions worldwide.
He noted that extraordinary times require extraordinary solutions, which was why even in this globalized era, most of the world had quarantined itself.
Modi praised the Heads of Missions for their efforts to evacuate Indians stranded abroad in some of the epicentres of the crisis. He also urged the heads to take steps on five specific counts:
i. To ensure their own health and safety, and that of their teams and families;
ii. To attend to Indians who remain in various foreign countries, given the uncertainty of continuing international travel restrictions. He called on Heads of Indian Missions to help boost the morale of such compatriots abroad, and to help them address issues arising from their unplanned stay abroad, with their host Governments, and also to address other problems Indians might face abroad, including arranging shelter, where necessary and feasible;
iii. To stay alert and identify in their countries of accreditation best practices, innovations, scientific breakthroughs and sources to procure medical equipment, for India’s fight against COVID-19. He also advised Heads of Mission to suitably publicize the newly-established PM-CARES Fund to mobilize donations from abroad;
iv. Since this crisis also impacts upon the economy, PM advised Heads of Mission to also focus on ensuring that commerce in essential supplies, logistics chains, remittances and so on are unaffected, through their coordination with foreign partners;
v. To continue to pay close attention to the evolving international political and economic situation, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In conclusion, the prime minister emphasized that India’s Missions abroad may well be far from home, but they remain full participants in India’s fight against COVID-19. He emphasized that the unity and alertness of all Indians would help safeguard the nation’s future.
