Every year, hundreds of non-resident Indians diligently gather in New Delhi to attend the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas from their different far-off adoptive nations just for three days.
The second day of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in New Delhi had an interaction with ministers of Indian origin in different countries. The subject was 'interests and concerns of the Diaspora.'
Reaching out to the Indian Diaspora while inaugurating the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday invited them to 'actively' participate in the country's economic development and join politics while hoping that they would get voting rights by the time of next general elections in 2014.
However, finance minister Pranab Mukerjee did not commit himself to this proposal of floating infrastructure bonds, as this requires detailed examination and Parliamentary nod.
The global success of people of Indian origin gave hope and showed the way to a new India.
Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi stated that the focus areas of the PBD in Mauritius would be to deliberate ways and means of further strengthening economic engagement, role of youth in maintaining the vital PIO links and cultural heritage as well as look at mutual areas of exploration where Mauritius could serve as a gateway for doing business with Africa.
At the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, organised by the government ostensibly to celebrate the country's connection with the 27-million-strong Indian diaspora living in 150 countries, Mr Ahluwalia said last Sunday that India was reaching out to NRIs not for their money, but because it valued the long, socio-cultural footprint all Indians living in India and abroad shared.
Veteran ethnic Indian leader Samy Vellu, Malaysia's new envoy on infrastructure, is heading to New Delhi this week to scout for opportunities for Malaysian businesses to foray into the Indian market.
In an interactive session at the 7th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas event at Chennai, Viswanatha Reddy, director, KTD, said the state helicopter tourism was proposed for Mangalore and Hospet. The department had identified Mangalore, Karwar and its coasts, which would have casinos, bars and so on for cruise tourism. He said 14 more helipads would be set up soon in addition to the present 23.
On the second day of the 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas held in Jaipur, a seminar was held on 'Enhancing rural energy access'.
A hassle-free electronic remittances gateway, enabling non-resident Indians to send money back home, will be launched during the three-day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas opening in Hyderabad on January 7.
"Those who are happy with Gujarat's progress praise us a lot and those who are jealous of our progress and economic development tell people that we are ahead of Gujarat," Chief Minister Narendra Modi told a gathering of overseas Indians while hard-selling his state on Saturday at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2010.
Breaking more walls for non-resident Indians, Minister for Overseas Affairs announced that Indians abroad could take active part in the development process of the country.
Against the backdrop of attacks on Indians in Australia, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday said the security of Indian students and workers abroad is a top priority of the government.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday said the government was conscious about the adverse effect of economic crisis on Indians employed abroad and was working on a project to provide social security net for the workers returning home.
Overseas Indian affairs minister Vayalar Ravi said on Wednesday investment promotion, sharing of knowledge and property issues relating to the expatriates will be among the main themes of the three-day meet to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on January 8.
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Two authors, two well known film makers and a banker discussed how the world has started viewing India in the recent past at the PBD.
He said that his state wants to reflect all the three colours of the national flag in the land of Gujarat. While the white revolution that began in Gujarat as a co-operative movement, the green revolution was represented by the handsome growth in the agriculture sector, he said.Narendra Modi stated that his state now exports milk to European nations and Singapore. Milk production has increased by 66 per cent in the state in the last decade.
All the chief ministers from the northeast states have confirmed that will be attending the 9th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said on Wednesday.
In its ninth consecutive year, the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, a Diaspora conclave that marks the contribution of the overseas Indian community in the development of the nation, has become a popular brand of sorts. The three-day event will start on January 7 and will see a participation of 1,300 delegates from the United States, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada, Europe and even Africa.
Foreigners who operate/own shacks and restaurants along the Baga-Anjuna coastline say they are being victimised by locals jealous of their success.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy on Friday said the CB-CID is independently probing the financial fraud in Satyam Computer, as it appeared likely that its founder Ramalinga Raju would be arrested.
The Air India Office in Chennai has received a letter warning attacks by 'suicide bombers' and threats to disrupt the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) beginning in the city on Thursday, police said.
The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin will celebrate its Convention 2009 in Chennai, India, January 6 and 7 at the Trident Hotel, just before the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2009 event.
Persons of Indian Origin in certain countries will be given dual citizenship and a legislation to facilitate it will be introduced in the Budget session of Parliament beginning next month.
Following the recent arrests of some suspected terrorists in Hyderabad and neighbouring districts, police and intelligence agencies have beefed up security.
"Come to India, invest in India and let India emerge as a stronger nation," was Chavan's message to all the overseas Indians who attended the chief ministers' conclave on the concluding day of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2010. Chavan's statement was well received by all overseas Indians present at the venue.
Industry estimates suggest that over the next four years, organised retail in India will receive investments in excess of $25 billion from domestic and foreign players, taking the size of organised retail to $ 75 billion.
"A lot of people in this country have given different definitions of secularism. I too have a right to give my own definition," Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said at a session of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Delhi on Sunday, while replying to a query by New Yorker Sanjay Sinha."For me the definition of secularism is very simple: India first. That's it," Modi said, getting a huge round of applause from the NRIs.
The minister also said that we should not paint the entire private sector companies as villains because of one bad firm. He said that the government will take steps to restore investor confidence, but did not elaborate on the issue.
'In our new initiative at e-governance all workers working abroad will be given smart cards which will have their information, and their employment information. This information will be available to the Government of India also so that we can provide all help when needed through the ministry of overseas Indian affairs,' says Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
Ravi, who inaugurated the 15th national biennial convention of the National Federation of Indian Americans in Seattle, Washington, told rediff.com that the Government of India and his Ministry are committed to the safety and protection of Indian students in the US and anywhere in the world, and that during his visit he would meet with the relevant authorities in the US to make sure that the welfare of the Indian students is ensured.
Eight cheetahs from Namibia were released into the park in September last year as part of an ambitious project to revive the extinct cheetah population in the country.
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