Participate in India's development, Sushma to diaspora

New Delhi, Aug 27 (PTI) India today invited its diaspora community to make financial contributions to the implementation of various development projects including Clean India and Ganga rejuvenation, and get connected with their "roots".

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called upon overseas Indians to send funds under the India Development Foundation (IDF) for projects of their choice which may even include building toilets in villages and rural areas.

The government had launched IDF to provide a platform for overseas Indians for carrying out development works in India through government agencies. The current government is giving a fresh push to make IDF an effective facilitator.

"India Development Foundation is such a platform through which Indians settled abroad can send money for India's development.

"The money will not be just a donation. It is a way to get connected with the roots. It is a way to pay back to your motherland. It will be a reflection of emotional attachment to the country," Swaraj said in a video message posted on MEA's twitter handle Indian Diplomacy.

Swaraj said overseas Indians can make contributions to Clean India and Ganga Rejuvenation projects or any other under IDF.

She said people can even contribute a minimum of USD 100 to a pool fund which will be used for implementing major projects.

The External Affairs Minister said state governments will cooperate in implementation of the projects under IDF.

"People living abroad want to do so much for India and that is why this platform (IDF) has been created," she said.

Under Clean India project, people can even make toilets in villages, she said.