AOW (Dutch Social Security)in India

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Comments from my compatriots
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Payment of Dutch Social Security in India.

In the 4th quarter of 2002, the issue of payment of Dutch Social Security in India was raised with the Government of India through Embassy of India about the new Dutch law as India did not have a bilateral social security agreement with the government of The Netherlands.

The long-awaited Bilateral Social Security Agreement between the Republic of India and the Kingdom of the Netherlands was concluded on 22nd October 2009 in New Delhi by the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs HE Mr. Vayalar Ravi and the Dutch Minister of Social Affairs & Employment HE Mr. P.H. Donner. Here are a few comments made by persons who will be benefiting from this agreement.

  • This is a firm salute to all your efforts in getting the Social Security Agreement on its feet.
    Thank you so much for your persistence, time and effort
    Dr. Gulnar Pruiskens, Amsterdam, 20-09-2009

  • Congratulations
    Arvind Kulshrestha, Rotterdam, 20-09-2009

  • You are a miracle maker!. Your persistence, your devotion to the cause of people of Indian origin are exceptional. All of us owe you our gratitude and thanks.
    B.Subba Rao, Bangalore, India, 21-09-2009

  • Thanks for forwarding the news about Social Security Agreement.
    I congratulate you to bring the whole thing upto this point. I am sure it all came this far because of your continued hard work and care for the people. Anyway your hard work gave satisfaction of success which will make many people so happy and comfortable.
    Mrs. Prabha Khan, Oegstgeest, 22-09-2009

  • Mr. Wahid Saleh has indeed contributed a lot for this and other important developments that bridge the two cultures of India and the Netherlands. His service was recognised by the Dutch government and was awareded the knighthood.
    Keep it up Mr. Wahid Saleh. Shreeniwas Aiyer, Amsterdam, 22-10-2009

  • I don't know whether I should congratulate you for this success, or thank you since it is also an immense benefit to many people. Indeed you have rightly pointed out in your letter " ....as an individual it is possible to contribute ...". It is nice of you to put the claim of the success on the openness of the system!
    Dr D. Murthy Halemane, Bangalore, 23-10-2009.

  • Congratulations, Wahidji. And on behalf of many overseas Indians including myself, thank you!
    Greetings from Kolkata,
    Dr. Bhaswati Bhattacharya, Kolkata, 23-10-2009

  • Congrarularions. Your contributions to the societies (India & The Netherlands) are indeed incredible. We are proud of an "ASSAMESE" like you who is "KHARKHOWA".
    May God bless you.
    Makani & Umesh , Zoetermeer, 23-10-2009

  • I am happy to read in TROUW regarding the AOW pact between India and The Netherlands which was announced by both ministers, HE Mr Ravi and J. Piet Hein Donner during Pravasi Divas in the Hague on 19 Sept. Indeed, Mr Wahid Saleh has critically been raising his voice for AOW for many years through etters/emails/meetings bilaterally Indian-Dutch governments. His rightful and humane efforts for which he is known in the community have given us such outcome by which a large number of people of Indian Origin will benefit. Our sincere thanks to Wahid and the authorities for taking such steps. God bless all!
    Dr. Hari S. Sharma, Rotterdam, 23-10-2009

  • Hearty congratulations Mr.Wahid Saleh, on a single-handed but truly epic effort over several years that has now been crowned with success. What is even more remarkable is that Mr. Saleh has done this without any selfish motives (as he says "Ik ben al lang gepensioneerd. Van die AOW in India maak ik toch geen gebruik.?) but purely out of a sense of "rechtvaardigheid" for hardworking & productive Indian professionals and knowledge workers who contribute significantly to the Dutch economy.
    Ram S.Ramdas, Leiden, 23-10-2009

  • Congratulations Wahid, your long initiative in this matter since 2002, has ultimately brought fruit. All present NRI/PIO, as well as the future ones, will always be grateful to you that they will not be deprived of their old age pension and other social security benefits, even when they resettle in India. I appreciate your wide interest in such issues not only for India as a whole but also for the state of Assam. Keep it up.
    Dr. Vasant Moharir, Zoetermeer, 24-10-2009,

  • Congratulations for the achivement. it is said that PERSEVERANTIA OMNIA VINCIT, means perseverance always wins becomes true for your efforts. I am not sure what kind of benefits it gives to the NRI who works in The Netherlands for small period. I am thinking of present work force of talented young generation working on IT and some expats like me who works with International organization in The The Netherlands. If there are any I suggest or request you to kindly publish one paper.
    Ketan Shaha, Voorburg, 24-10-2009

  • Thank you very much for this significant achievement.
    I recall being impressed by the way you raised the issues to Minister Ravi (Holiday Inn Leiden). Daring to change the mundane tone of the conference, you raised critical problems that people like Min. Ravi are well placed to tackle. You were armed with sufficient detail that even a lay person could understand - including the misgivings in some administrative fees. Which indeed lead to a sincere admission by the Minister about the limitations to what he can achieve but he was surely won over for the cause, which is all one could hope for.
    Now I hear you've persisted until there is a solution. This is inspiring, thank you for this real contribution!
    Shekhar Pula, Amsterdam, 24-10-2009

  • I wish to express my appreciation and gratitude for the work that you have done for this particular issue and for other issues concerning Indians in general.
    Although the majority of the Indian community is still far from their AOW age, I hope that they realise what this means to them.
    Once again my thanks for this tremendous achievement.
    Nasir Shaikh, Eindhoven, 24-10-2009

  • I am delighted to learn that the Social Security Agreement between India and the Netherlands has been signed in New Delhi. This is very largely due to your tireless efforts over many years. I admire your dedication and perseverance. Heartiest congratulations.
    Ram Lakhina, Oegestgeest, 24-10-2009

  • Well done , Mr. Saleh. Thanks.
    Pramod Sharma, Amsterdam, 24-10-2009

  • 1. Congrats! FYI: Already 20 years ago I had arranged for AOW payments through the Dutch Embassy...
    2. Good to realise: Now, Indian 'kennisworkers' in Holland will not be able to use Dutch welfare facilities, if they don't pay taxes!
    3. Dutch getting old in India? Would the increasing poverty in India (now almost 80%) encourage persons of integrity to live a life of leisure there based on the current Euro-Rupee exchange rate?
    4. Who guarantees just AOW payments in India ??
    Euphoris is understandable but a little down-to-earthness will help prevent misunderstandings and problems later.
    Warm regards,
    Ms. Doris Canter Visscher, voorburg, 24-10-2009

  • I am surprised at the comment of mw Doris Canter Visscher about "kennismigranten" recruited by prestigious organizations like ABN, Philips etc & whose taxes/social security payments are deducted by the employers & paid directly to Dutch government. She says "Good to realise: Now, Indian 'kennisworkers' in Holland will not be able to use Dutch welfare facilities, if they don't pay taxes!" How ignorant & stupid!On the other hand mw Visscher cynically exploits hospitable/friendly/open India to get business & make money, but cannot find anything positive about India (because she feels so superior).She also seems ignorant about booming India
    Gold Mund, Vienna, Austria op 26-10-2009

  • Quite an amazing achievement, and a long time coming. Congratulations Mr Saleh.
    Sanjay Tiwari, Chicago 25-10-2009

  • Congrats Mr. Wahid Saleh. Great achievement. All your efforts in this regard are very much appreciated. Keep it up!
    Dr. Venu Venugopal, Maarssen, 25-10-2009

  • I thank you for the all the intiative you took to get pension in India as I still has to go long way to get it but I can now be tension free that it is possible to be old in India as an overseas Indian .Please do not give up the nice work tommorow something else will come and we will be counting on you to lead us.
    With Warm regards,
    Kavita Vedi, Nieuwe-vennep, 25-10-2009,

  • This is great news for all the Indians who have served NL for years, and as far as I am concerned this is the greatest achievement of a lone warrior in long time to come.
    Fantastic job done - your perseverance has paid off.
    Murali Talasila, New Delhi, 25-10-2009

  • I just want to say thank you so much for this wonderful deed. Carry on god bless you.
    Jasbir Atwal, 25-10-2009

  • Congratulations. Your contributions to the Indian community in Holland is well known and recognized. This is just the result of one of the many areas of your tireless efforts related to NRI’s and PIO’s in Holland.
    My personal thanks for this achievement. You deserve more than that!
    Vikas Kohl, Badhoevedorp, 25-10-2009

  • Congratulations. Your tireless efforts have benefitted all of us for us my personal thanks. Keep up the good work.
    Raghuraman, Leiderdorp op 25-10-2009

  • Again congratulations & thanks for your perseverance to fight for a good cause.
    The community expects more from you in the years to come!
    Jasbir Singh, Hoofddorp, 25-10-2009

  • # Without any air of ego but with utmost modesty you called yourself an individual only and claimed no credit for your marvellous achievement that you earned on behalf of and for of all of us! May the Almighty bestows upon you all His Divine favours and courage to fight always against the wrongs and the shortcomings ...!
    # It is the moral duty of every community member to announce that "Thank you, Mr Saleh, you have done a job that will go in the history pages of the community"! And not only we will remain grateful to you, but also future generations will appreciate this unforgettable service of yours to them. Bravo and thanks
    Dr. H.U. Qureshi, Leidschendam, 25-10-2009

  • It is simply your sincere dedication and will to do something great for the Indian community to reap the fruits in their old age. We are proud to have someone like you who cares for the people without making oneself visible with pomp and show. Greatness consists in trying to be great, there is no other way -Albert Camus. This holds good for you, Sir. My whole family joins me in extending their heartiest congratulations for this achievement. Three cheers.
    Dr.A.H.Siddiqui & Family, Monnickendam, 26-10-2009

  • Congratulations for this achievement which is going to benefit all NRI,s living in Holland. You have handled this issue single handed. Thank you for doing it for all of us.
    Sudhir & Sheela Kulkarni, Leiderdorp, 26-10-2009.

  • Thanks a lot for the initiative. I think to see your efforts materializing would be best reward for your initiative. :) I do have a question though: Is it possible to take your Pension Fund amount to India in case you leave the Netherlands before a person is 65? The issue is that I do not want my pension amount to stay in Netherlands if I go back to India
    Bipin Balakrishnan, Eindhoven, 26-10-2009.

  • Congratulations and thanks for your persistent efforts in helping Indian community in the Netherlands. Mr. Saleh, your contribution through Netherland India Association and otherwise is invaluable.
    Nitin Mehta, Zoetermeer, 27-10-2009,

  • Our warm congratulations! Your incredible achievement makes it possible to believe that real equality between people and countries is not entirely be impossible (and can and should be negotiated!).
    Dr Hanne M. de Bruin-Rajagopal, Kanchipuram (India) op 27-10-2009

  • Great service Mr.Saleh! Thanks a lot! Be blessed by the Divine!
    Velu, Den Haag, 28-10-2009

  • I congratulat and salute you for your hard work with persistence and dedication to achieve this big achievement. A lesson to be learnet by all of us and request to you to be a guide in this process of transformation with dignity.
    Best Wishes
    Rajan Datta, Alkmaar, 29-10-2009

  • I have been a regular recipient of info from you since the last few years. I am overjoyed to hear that atlast your hard work, concerning AOW reimbursments in India, has paid off. Now many more indian wanting to go back and settle down in india with their hard earned pensions, will be able to do so. as for yourself, i hope that you will continue to do this sort of work in the years to come. Should you need any organisational help, please email me.
    Congratulation again, for a job well done.
    Jassy and Friends, The Hague
    Jasvinder Singh, The Hague, 29-10-2009

  • All Indians are very proud of Mr. Saleh's achievments and his great service to the NRI community. Now at least all NRIs have the option of enjoying their AOW pension in India in their twilight years. Let us all unite in recommending Mr. Saleh's name for the Pravasi Samman Puraskar.
    Irine Rickets, Rotterdam, 29-10-2009

  • CONGRATULATIONS. Many many thanks. God bless you!
    Chan Ramlal, Arnhem, 29-10-2009

  • Congratulations. May God bless you very good health and strength for years to come as a gift for your initiative which has benifited to all Indians in Nertherlands. Also my good wishes to The Ministers HE Mr.Vayalar Ravi,HE Mr.J.Piet Hein Donner and our Ambassador HE Mr. Manbir Singh.
    Hardarshan Singh, Amsterdam, 29-10-2009

  • You have indeed achieved wonders. There must be very few who could take on a Government department singlehanded on such an important issue and then persevere for so long. The new agreement that has finally been signed is a fitting tribute to your tireless efforts to help your fellow Indians. You have earned grateful appreciation and thanks from all your fellow Indians in the Netherlands.
    We wish you continued success in similar efforts.
    Sisir and Manikuntala Sengupta, Rotterdam, 29-10-2009

  • Congratulations on this great achievement! Your long and tireless hard work has paid off and will benefit thousands of people of Indian origin living in the Netherlands and their families. The NIA which you have served for several years is highly indebted to you and your selfless work.
    Dr Jyotsna A. Gupta, Rijswijk, 30-10-2009.

  • Many people talk about social service or Seva, which means a service done without any desire to get some thing in return,but very few realize it,like Mr.Saleh. By making a dream come true,in this case two countries will be benefited.Firstly the people who after their education came here & contributed thier service to make Holland a better country, when they go back, the host country will be free from the responsibilities of their welfare like housing,social security, health facilities etc. Home country can also be benefited from their kwowledge.High exchange rate & man power in India can give them a good life.Thank you Mr.Saleh.
    Mrs.Kantha Reddy, Dordrecht, 30-10-2009.

  • Thanks for your email with the wonderful news. You have achieved some thing singlehanded and we do not know how to thank you for that. May you be blessed.
    Samir K. Brahma & Amita Brahmai, 30-10-2009.

  • Our warmest congratulations for the good news and the crowning of all your efforts for the retired NRI's in their home country. Your this contribution has certainly been appreciated by all.
    Cor Rappange & Usha Bhalla, Amasterdam, 30-10-2009.

  • Congrulations on your achievements for all of us. Well done.
    Mrs. Mukta Saxena, Krimpen aan den Ijssel, 31-10-2009.

  • My hearty congratulations to you. You've turned the impossible into the possible. Having AOW in India for those who truly love to return will be blessing and a sigh of relief. Even though there are quite a few who already have adapted to this country perfectly well as their own. Anyway the old age isn't a very easy thing to make a drastic change especially after working and living somewhere far far away. However I thank you so much for this great achievement. May God bless you.
    Mrs. P.D. Bedi, Den Haag, 02-11-2009.

  • Thanks for this another big contribution.
    Gagan Tiwari, Rotterdam, 03-11-2009.

  • This is really good news. Thank you so much. Were it for not your efforts, this would never have materialised! We shall now await some improvement in AOW.
    Hiro Wadhwani, Delhi, 04-11-2009.

  • Bade-Bade Bate----but--Sorry mister how do you do. The Paisa is finished at the time the agreement goes in.Bet You. Even for holland people. Punjabi Bhajja's experience
    Bhajja, Amsterdam, 05-11-2009.

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  • Great effort Mr. Saleh. Congratulations and many thanks!
    Ashish Dharap, Eindhoven, 05-11-09



    Dutch Text

  • Ook ik feliciteer U met uw succes betreffende de AOW-overeenkomst.
    Ali Soebhan, 30-10-2009

  • Dank voor alle moeite die je hebt gedaan. Hoop als we naar India gaan verhuizen de vruchten te kunnen plukken van jouw volhardende strijd om dit tot stand te brengen. Je bent met het vele werk dat je doet met de Indiawijzer een belangrijke schakel tussen India en Nederland!! Veel dank van Usha en mij.
    Cor Rappange, 16-11-2009

  • Ik feliciteer de heer Saleh en onze regeringen om deze overeenkomst te tekenen. De heer Saleh is een voorbeeld van hoe vele Indiase-Nederlanders in beide landen kunnen werken en genieten (ook na het pensioen) omdat ze zich uitstekend geïntegreerd hebben in de Nederlandse samenleving zonder te assimileren.
    Lid Kenniskring Innovatie en Ondernemerschap, De Haagse Hogeschool
    Voorzitter EuroAsian Entrepreneurship & Management Network, Breukelen, 25-10-2009


  • Als de Indiase overheid zich dan ook aan de afspraken houdt en het mogelijk maakt de rechtmatigheid van in India uitgekeerde AOW te controleren, door bijvoorbeeld een betrouwbare bevolkingsadministratie te voeren, is er wérkelijk sprake van een bilaterale afspraak.
    M. van G., Rotterdam, 23-10-2009

  • Gefeliciteerd Mr Saleh, kwestie van rechtvaardigheid.
    O.Dvoyksks, Amsterdam, 23-10-2009

  • Als we jou toch niet hadden! Wat een goed nieuws is dit voor de AOW.
    Het andere punt is inderdaad van groot belang. Op sommige vliegvelden in India worden OCI kaarthouders terug gestuurd omdat zij geen geldig visa hebben naast hun geldige buitenlandse paspoort.
    Met veel dank.
    Dr. Jan Brouwer, Mysore, 23-10-2009.

  • Dit ziet er inderdaad goed uit. Dank voor het doorsturen. Maar wordt het deze maand echt ondertekend?
    Dr. Jan Brouwer, Mysore, 20-10-2009.

  • Gefeliciteerd met het behaald resultaat. Het is eindelijk gelukt om de overheden van India en vooral Nederland zover te krijgen: de ondertekening van het “Social Security Agreement”.
    Dit is een belangrijke mijlpaal voor veel ouderen in Nederland.
    Lalo L. Roopram, New Delhi, 27-09-2009.


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