The External Affairs ministry is setting up a new department to exclusively deal with the problems of six million non-resident Indians (NRIs) and over 20 million persons of Indian origin (PIOs). An officer has been appointed for the department and the functions and responsibilities of this division are at present being worked out, the ministry told the parliamentary standing committee on external affairs.

The Department would work towards ensuring coordination amongst various ministries and departments to optimize the benefits of the Government policies for NRIs and PIOs, it said.

Possibilities of setting up information centres or public relations offices at each of the important missions in select countries could be worked out to provide them possible assistance in handling their problems.