The economy is scheduled to dominate the seventh annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Chennai, January 7-9. Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi told Rediff India Abroad that the ongoing economic meltdown has affected the Diaspora and could even impact on the numbers participating in the PBD, but said such impact could be marginal. "We are not getting any alarming report, so far," the minister said, adding that at least 1,200 prominent NRIs are expected to attend.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention provides a unique platform for overseas Indians to interact among themselves and with central and state governments. The eleventh edition of the convention is being held in Kochi, Kerala, from January 7-9
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention provides a unique platform for overseas Indians to interact among themselves and with central and state governments. The eleventh edition of the convention is being held in Kochi, Kerala, from January 7-9
United States Agency for International Development Administrator Rajiv Shah, who is the highest ranking Indian-American official in the Obama administration, has received the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman.
The role of overseas Indians in the country's emergence as a global power will be the main theme of the seventh Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to be held in Chennai from January 7 next year. The event will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pratibha Patil will address the concluding session of the three-day meet.
The recipients of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, presented by President Prathibha Patil at the valedictory function of the 6 th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, at Vigyna Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Guests were all praise for the Bihar government.
The Indian Diaspora has been able to carve a niche in their adopted countries as a result of their talent, perseverance and hardworking nature, asserts Rup Narayan Das.
Other speakers will include CK Prahalad, Karan Billimoria and Apoorva Bagri.
The students who attended the PBD were an unhappy lot. Over 80 students attended the PBD as part of the Know India programme, and several students complained that there was no proper forum for them to interact with each other.
The annual event for overseas Indians, which is being held in Jaipur for the first time, witnessed tempers flaring with delegates upset over being frisked at every gate inside the convention venue. Some delegates even complained of policemen being rude and polite depending on their mood.
Just days before the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas meet at Chennai, surfacing of an email purportedly send by the Indian Mujahideen has prompted the government to redo security arrangements for the diaspora event.The two line mail, which was received on the Confederation of Indian Industries' mail server, is signed off by the 'Indian Mujahideen'.The mail says that the IM is keeping an eye on the developments of the three-day annual event organised for the Indian diaspora.
Akbar had resigned as junior external affairs minister in the wake of allegation of sexual misconduct during his tenure as a senior editor. The alleged incidents came to light during the #MeToo movement. Akbar had denied the allegations.
A quick scan of prime ministerial speeches at the PBD going back to 2009, another election year, reveals no political utterances by either Modi or his predecessor, Dr Manmohan Singh.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on Sunday with President Pratibha Patil honouring 15 individuals for their achievements and enhancing India's image globally. Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore spoke to these awardees on what this recognition meant to them.
Preparations are almost complete for the smooth conduct of the three-day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, which will be attended by President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Addressing the 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Jaipur, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that Non-Resident Indians would be allowed to vote and participate in the election process.
Attracting investment, highlighting resilience of the economy and explaining steps taken to reverse the growth slump.
Giving a platform to Keralites in the Gulf to air their grievances, an exclusive session on Non-Resident Indians in that region was held as the 11th Pravasi Divas began in Kochi on Monday.
All we want from the government is to give us visa and they can't even deliver that, says Inder Singh, chairman of Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin International
Kerala will have to wait. The next Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be held in Chandigarh," and not in Thiruvananthapuram, said Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi.
Each leader will look after six assembly constituencies.
Most of these leaders are known for their organisational skills and successful management of elections in their respective states.
Modi said the world today listens to India, which not only presents its own views strongly but also those of the Global South.
Indian-American lawmaker of New Jersey general assembly Upendra J Chivukula has been felicitated by his peers and the state Governor for receving the prestigious 'Pravasi Bharatiya Samman'.
Mauritius President Rajkeswur Purryag is among the 15 persons and organisations selected for the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards for this year.
Central Railway authorities are investigating an employee agitation that disrupted train services and led to commuter deaths. Unions protested an FIR against engineers in a previous accident, while commuters demand accountability for the disruption and resulting chaos.
Two of the awardees -- Billy Nair from South Africa and Sibabrata Roy from Germany -- were unable to make it for the presentation.
'The subsequent generations of Indians abroad are free from such baggage of the past. They may be intolerant of the mosquitoes and the heat when they come to India, but they are proud of their heritage and the achievements of their parents abroad. India, to them, is a brand, which gives them added advantage in their highly competitive environment,' says T P Sreenivasan.
Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago Kamla Persad-Bissessar will be the chief guest at the Pravasi Bharati Divas in Jaipur and will be honoured with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award.
'A confident India is now coming in contact with NRIs,' says J C Sharma, secretary, ministry of external affairs on the first conference of overseas Indians.
'I am not saying we will get $10 billion from overseas Indians at the end of the Pravasi Diwas conference. We will get just a trickle but the interest will be generated,' says FICCI Secretary-General Amit Mitra.
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