annual report1-final.qxd - Overseas Indian

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Introduction India is a vibrant nation of many cultures, religions, languages, and regions. The invisible thread that holds this heterogeneity together is Indian-ness. This, as the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, reminded us last year, is an idea whose time has come. Diasporas are both the products and the drivers of globalization. The Indian diaspora, estimated at 25 million and spread over 110 countries across the globe, is an important player in this process. The 4th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), 2006, held in Hyderabad from January 7 to 9, 2006, was aimed at bringing the knowledge, expertise and skills of the vast and diverse overseas Indian community on a common platform. It sought to shape an agenda for a symbiotic relationship between Indian and its diaspora. The focus was on establishing an institutional framework for sustainable engagement with overseas Indians. The framework would bind together overseas Indians as ‘knowledge’ partners, the states of India as ‘stakeholder’ partners and the Ministry of Overseas Indian affairs as a ‘facilitator’. Apart from the inaugural and valedictory sessions, this three-day conference had: Eight Plenary Sessions on diverse themes like knowledge network, philanthropy, culture, remittances etc. and an interactive session with the State Governments. Six Parallel Sessions on specific issues, which were of interest to sections of the delegates, like gender, education, youth, overseas employment, commemorating the diaspora and assisted living. Three Panel Discussions on political discourse, communal harmony and secularism, and reporting on the diaspora. Two Roundtables to stimulate discussions on futuristic topics introduced by eminent speakers. PBD 2006 targeted specific outcomes. Outcomes that we PBD 2006 aimed at bringing the knowledge, expertise and skills of the vast Indian diaspora on a common platform 2 Minister of State (In-charge) Oscar Fernandes at the curtain-raiser of the 4th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Hyderabad on January 6, 2006. believe, can transform ideas into individual initiatives and community action reinforcing dynamic India and its diaspora as ‘partners in progress’. The key outcomes targeted were: ! Developing an inclusive agenda for the diaspora. ! Seeding the idea of diaspora networks and drawing up a road map for establishing them. ! Making the States active stakeholder partners in the networks. ! Developing templates for individual initiatives and community action to leverage the knowledge and other resources of overseas Indians. ! Thinking back and looking ahead to outline the action plan for meaningful engagement with the diaspora round the year and across the globe. Over 1,500 delegates (900 overseas and 600 Indian) from 42 countries attended this annual conclave. Besides, nearly 300 invitees of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) and Government of Andhra Pradesh took part in the sessions. These comprised speakers and dignitaries from India and overseas, senior officials and ministers of the Central and State Governments. The Government of Andhra Pradesh was the partner state and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) was the institutional partner. !
Inaugural Session Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurating the 4th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas with the traditional lighting of the lamp at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre in Hyderabad on January 7, 2006. The 4th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was inaugurated at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) on January 7, 2006, by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh with the traditional lighting of the lamp. An invocation was performed by renowned Carnatic vocalist and Sangeeta Kala awardee Nedunuri Krishnamurthi, accompanied by artistes on the violin, mridangam and tanpura. S. Krishna Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, welcomed the distinguished gathering and presented an overview of the three-day event. He said that the attempt was to make PBD a business-oriented, if not a purely business, conference. He stated that the Ministry had brought in the dimensions of ‘Working Together’ to the idea of ‘Getting Together’ represented by PBD. This would spawn partnerships between India and its diaspora across various sectors and segments. These partnerships would assume strategic importance in the years to come with India truly in its way to be a global knowledge and economic powerhouse and become instrumentalities of the exercise of India’s soft power. The Secretary then invited the Prime Minister to present the first Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) documents to two members of the diaspora, Nivruti Rai and Iftekar Ahmad Sharif. The documents included an OCI card and a multi-entry, lifetime visa to India. The PM also released the OCI handbook. MOIA Minister Oscar Fernandes then released the first issue of the monthly newsletter of the Ministry, Overseas Indian, in five languages — English, Hindi, Telugu, Gujarati and Malayalam. In his address, Fernandes mentioned that the Ministry was a young one and its formation acknowledged the fact that overseas Indians, estimated at 25 million and spread over 110 countries in eight major regions of the world, needed mainstream attention. He drew attention to the fact that the Indian diaspora was a heterogenous group and its concerns and needs varied vastly from country to country. It was this plurality that gave strength to the vast overseas Indian community. The global Indian is now gaining recognition for his/her knowledge, dedication and strong work ethic. The Minister said that India was keen to establish three kinds of partnerships: knowledge with professional bodies like the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin; institutional partner- 3
Page 1: Pravasi Bharatiya DIVAS PROCEEDINGS
Page 6 and 7: Inaugural Session KATHRADA stated t
Page 8 and 9: Plenary Session 1 S.Krishna Kumar,
Page 10 and 11: Plenary Session 1 must consider the
Page 12 and 13: Plenary Session 2 would be addresse
Page 14 and 15: Plenary Session 2 continued in the
Page 16 and 17: Plenary Session 3 Internet technolo
Page 18 and 19: Plenary Session 4 its in their Indi
Page 20 and 21: Parallel Sessions with States A del
Page 22 and 23: Parallel Sessions with States tion
Page 24 and 25: Parallel Sessions with States manuf
Page 26 and 27: Parallel Sessions with States said,
Page 28 and 29: Parallel Sessions with States Refor
Page 30 and 31: Parallel Sessions with States secto
Page 32 and 33: Plenary Session 5 networks, he said
Page 34 and 35: Parallel Sessions Panelists at the
Page 36 and 37: Parallel Sessions region. A major i
Page 38 and 39: Parallel Sessions Intern, 4th IDYP
Page 40 and 41: Parallel Sessions incrementally ove
Page 42 and 43: Parallel Sessions old age home shou
Page 44 and 45: Panel Discussions Panelists at the
Page 46 and 47: Panel Discussions Government in mak
Page 48 and 49: Plenary Session 7 Vijay Mahajan, Ch
Page 50 and 51: Roundtable 2 regulatory framework.
Page 52 and 53: Valedictory President A.P.J. Abdul
Page 54 and 55:
Annexure1: Programme Schedule 0930-
Page 56 and 57:
Annexure1: Programme Schedule Mr. G
Page 58 and 59:
Annexure 3: List of Speakers 1. DR.
Page 60 and 61:
Annexure 3: List of Speakers Fax: 1
Page 62 and 63:
Annexure 3: List of Speakers 75. B.
Page 64 and 65:
Press Coverage 64
Page 68:
GLOBALLY INDIAN PRAVASI BHARATIYA D
show all

annual report1-final.qxd - Overseas Indian

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?