India: 8th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas marks a watershed: Vayalar Ravi

PBD-2010 CONCLUDES WITH THE CONFERRING OF PRAVASI BHARATIYA SAMMANS

9 Jan 2010

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas-2010 concluded here today with the resolve to develop strong bond between Indian community abroad and their motherland by better understanding the needs of the community and providing them all possible opportunities.

Expressing satisfaction over the two day’s deliberations, Shri Vayalar Ravi said that the Eighth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas marks a watershed, in the relationship, between India and its Diaspora. For the first time, we sought to define an ‘inclusive agenda’ to enhance reciprocal engagement between India and its overseas community. He said that the theme, this year has gone beyond the narrow confines, of asking what the overseas Indians can do for India to include and what India can do for overseas Indians. The focus of this PBD has been on developing innovative avenues by which overseas Indians can benefit from the myriad opportunities that India offers, the Minister observed.

Highlighting the significance of some of the issues raised during the PBD-2010, the Minister said that several potential modes for engaging the Diaspora – the proposal for issue of ‘India Infrastructure Bonds’, collaborating in Skill Development and building Business to Business Partnerships have been discussed. Shri Ravi said that this year’s PBD also signals, a paradigm shift, in the level, the range and the pace, of our mutual engagement. It is our conviction, that we must now expand our engagement and reach out to the vast majority, of the average middle class overseas Indians. We must also make our mutual engagement strategic over the medium to long term.

Shri Vayalar Ravi said that there is a need to redefine the role, relations and partnerships of NRIs with the country in view of the fact that over the next decade India will be well on its way to join the ranks of developed countries and become an important player in global development. There is also a need to give deep thought to the role of youth, especially the role of scientists, technologists and academics of Indian origin to address global issues like climate change. He stressed that it is time that ‘gender’ is acknowledged as an important dimension of the diaspora. They should be provided the opportunities to discover India – it’s glorious past, exciting present and promising future.

Reiterating government’s commitment to forge strong bond with Indian community abroad, Shri Ravi said ‘in particular, we wish to reach out to the younger generation of the overseas community - the children and grand children of overseas Indians who were born and raised abroad – and help them discover their roots’.

He said that the government is enthused by the response and the large number of delegates from across the world and assured all possible steps to implement the decisions taken and address the concerns raised during the meet.

On the conclusion of the meet, fourteen eminent overseas Indians from different walks of life were awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman – 2010 by the President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil. The Awards) are conferred on a Non-Resident Indian or an organization/institution, who have made significant contribution towards better understanding abroad of India and support to India’s causes and concerns in a tangible way.

The Awardees are, Mr. Mohinder Singh Bhullar from Brunei,Darussalam; Mr. Yanktesh Permal Reddy from Fiji; Mr. Ryuko Hira from Japan; (Mrs) Dr. Ruby Umesh Pawankar from Japan;Mr. Suresh Kumar Virmani from Oman; Mr. Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan from South Africa; Dr. Tholisiah Perumal Naidoo from South Africa; Dr. Rajni Kanabar from Tanzania; Mr. Deepak Mittal from Thailand; Dr. Lenny Krishendath Saith from Trinidad & Tobago;Dr. Azad Moopen from U.A.E;Dr. Mani Lal Bhaumik from U.S.A.;Mr. Ashok Kumar Mago from U.S.A; Mr. Upendra J. Chivukula from USA.


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