With a large population of youth, India is a young nation. One of the focus areas of the PBD this year is a Youth. PBD on 7th January 2014 to open new horizons of a strong network of young overseas Indian
Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) 2014 in New Delhi will for the first time include a focus on engaging Indian with Diaspora youth with the annual event’s theme being to connect across generations, announced India’s Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) Vayalar Ravi.
Ravi made the announcement at the first press conference in New Delhi to host the PBD 2014 between January 7th and 9th at the Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi. Ravi said the entire day on January 7th will deal with various events to connect Diaspora youth with India, an effort started by the Ministry few years ago with its Know India Program (KIP) for Diaspora Youth from across the world who have never visited India before. India’s Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will be the Partner Ministry for the event. With a majority youth population, India is a young nation. It is in the fitness of things, therefore, that there is a focus on Youth PBD during the forthcoming convention in Delhi, Ravi said.
The 12th edition of the PBD will be have two major days of some new sessions that include discussions on India’s development agenda and India’s soft power, to apprise and invite the Diaspora to participate and invest in India, Ravi said. MOIA has been working with global Diaspora organizations such as GOPIO International on issues and concerns of the overseas Indian community.
The PBD convention had become a unique platform to interact among themselves and with the Government of India and the Governments of various Indian States, Ravi said. FICCI is the event manager for the high profile event. Minister Ravi inaugurated the website for the PBD where interested participants can register online. Ravi said he expects more than 2,000 persons to attend the 2014 PBD and among them would be approximately 400 or more youth participants from India and the Diaspora.
ABOUT PBD
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated on 9th January every year to mark the contribution of Overseas Indian community in the development of India. January 9 was chosen as the day to celebrate this occasion since it was on this day in 1915 that Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest Pravasi, returned to India from South Africa, led India’s freedom struggle and changed the lives of Indians forever.
PBD conventions are being held every year since 2003. These conventions provide a platform to the overseas Indian community to engage with the government and people of the land of their ancestors for mutually beneficial activities. These conventions are also very useful in networking among the overseas Indian community residing in various parts of the world and enable them to share their experiences in various fields.
During the event, individuals of exceptional merit are honoured with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award to appreciate their role in India’s growth. The event also provides a forum for discussing key issues concerning the Indian Diaspora.
The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) is an interactive ministry, dedicated to the multitude of Indian Nationals settled abroad. Established in May 2004 as the Ministry of Non-Resident Indians’ Affairs, it was renamed as the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) in September 2004. Driven by a mission of development through coalitions in a world without borders, MOIA seeks to connect the Indian Diaspora community with its motherland.
