The event was inaugurated by Dr Manmohan Singh, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, who expressed his appreciation for the contributions made by the Indian Community living abroad, and highlighted some of the key initiatives by the Government for the Diaspora.
Dr Manmohan Singh said that the Government has issued notifications for registering NRIs under the Representation of People Act, 1950. A Bill to merge People of Indian Origin and Overseas Citizen of India schemes by amending the Citizenship Act had also been introduced, he said. In a measure to ensure the safety and well being of Indian workers abroad, Dr. Singh said that the Government has decided to introduce and sponsor a new Pension and Life Insurance Fund which will provide social security benefits and a low-cost life insurance cover against natural death. Such agreements are being negotiated with Netherlands, France, Australia and the EU as well, he added. Dr Singh appreciated the proposal of the Government of Rajasthan to build a Pravasi Bharatiya Bhawan at Jaipur, which will also house the offices of Protector of Emigrants and Migrant Resource Center.
The Prime Minister launched the website of India Development Foundation of Overseas Indians (IDFOI), a trust under the aegis of MOIA providing a credible window for Overseas Indian philanthropy for social development of India. He also released a OIFC-MOIA publication ‘Returning Indians – All you need to know.’
The Chief Guest at the 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Hon’ble Kamla Persad Bissessar, Prime Minister, Trinidad & Tobago, congratulated the Government of India for organizing the event, representing a spirit of unity and cooperation and providing a pragmatic and effective platform for Indian Diaspora engagement.
The Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Mr Ashok Gehlot, said that the Diaspora from Rajasthan is recognized throughout the world for its entrepreneurship and hard work and has done the country proud in the past and continues to carry on the good work.
He announced the ‘Apne Rajasthan ko Janiye’ scheme, under which 50 Indian Diaspora Youth would be invited by the State Government every year to visit and experience Rajasthan.
Some of the noted speakers at the inaugural event were Mr Vayalar Ravi, Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, Mr B Muthuraman, President, CII, and Vice Chairman, Tata Steel Ltd. and Chairman, Tata International Ltd, H.E. Mr Shivraj V Patil, Governor, Rajasthan, Mr Arjun Munda, Chief Minister of Jharkhand and Mr Parvez Dewan, Secretary, Union Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs.
President of India outlines Priorities of Health, Education and Skill Development
President of India H.E. Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, emphasized Health, Education and Skill Development as the key priorities in the strategy of development, she said the Government would spend adequate resources to ensure maximum efficiency in outcomes in these identified focus areas. The President of India gave away the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards to 15 Pravasi achievers from different fields. Hon’ble Kamla Persad Bissessar was awarded for her outstanding contribution in public service and fostering closer relations between India and Trinidad & Tobago.
