annual report1-final.qxd - Overseas Indian

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Plenary Session 1 S.Krishna Kumar, left, Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, and Devesh Kapur, Professor, University of Texas, at the plenary session on ‘Defining the Diaspora Agenda’ in Hyderabad on January 7, 2006. PLENARY SESSION I DEFINING A DIASPORA AGENDA Chair: Oscar Fernandes, MOS (IC) Opening Remarks: S. Krishna Kumar, Secretary, MOIA Speakers: Prof. Sunil Khilnani, Director, South Asia Studies, Johns Hopkins University Prof. Devesh Kapur, Professor, University of Texas Dato Seri S. Samy Vellu, Minister of Works, Malaysia Dr. Prem Misir, Pro-Chancellor, University of Guyana Lalit Mansingh, Former Foreign Secretary MOIA Secretary S. Krishna Kumar welcomed the gathering and stated that the Indian diaspora was heterogeneous; therefore, defining the diaspora agenda needed addressing the needs of disparate groups. The key to this would be to develop location specific agendas that would add up to an all inclusive diaspora agenda. He emphasised that the diaspora was India’s soft power and an agenda that helps build partnerships should be the focus. Prof. Sunil Khilnani, Johns Hopkins University, highlighted the need for branding India. India’s brainpower could be exported to the global economy. He mentioned that economic and military prowess were not enough to ensure security. The Indian state and society should be projected properly in the global market, he said and added that brand identity was associated with soft power to articulate India globally so that the weaknesses could be transformed into India’s strength. The diasporic community could be India’s brand ambassadors. The diaspora could help in developing its service sector, remove shortages of skilled labour and participate in developing its education reforms. Prof. Khilnani was of the view that India needed high quality of education along with diversity. Therefore, India has to become a producer rather than consumer of knowledge in a global society, he said. The new identity in the 21st century would be 6
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Pravasi Bharatiya Divas based on knowledge. Like the Chinese, India would have to collaborate with the rest of the world for its future development, he said. Prof. Devesh Kapur demonstrated that human capital was an important indicator of development. Pointing out that the Indian diaspora had access to both global and local knowledge, he said it should help India to create resources to enter the growing demand for higher education. According to Kapur, the diasporic community could help in the following ways: (1) Play a strategic role in streamlining the primary education sector and persuade the Indian States to provide free and decent primary education. (2) The young and the idealist should come to India to do voluntary work. (3) They could help in improving research activities. (4) They should help in setting up world-class universities. Dato Seri S. Samy Vellu argued that India and the diasporic community should collaborate in areas, which were strategically beneficial to both. He passionately pleaded for improving the infrastructural facilities in India, to which the Malayasian diaspora would contribute immensely. He said that in order to modernise India, one needed to modernise its roads first. It would create not only freeways but also help people from small towns to export. He also said that there is a need for a Diaspora News Network, not CNN, to connect people of Indian origin across the globe. He advocated strengthening of higher education, which would have a snowball effect on economic development. He requested that deliberations of the diaspora conferences should be documented and sent out to participants. Dr. Prem Misir said that the majority of the Indian diaspora were average working people. The diaspora had grown over a period of more than 2,000 years and had a unique worldview. A distinction should be made between PIOs and the NRIs. He felt that the Government had a slant towards NRIs and that PIOs tend to be ignored. He cited from the history of Guyana and Fiji since 1870s and said that the nature of migration had influenced the identities of the diaspora. He suggested that ethnic identities should be recognised and any marginalisation should be prevented. He also suggested the following in the context of the Caribbean: (1) Co-existence of all cultures in the process of institution building. (2) Linkages with India must be sustained. (3) Enlightened Indians must recognise the diversity of the Indian diaspora. (4) The diasporic Indians should take interest in investment in India. Lalit Mansingh outlined a common agenda and basic principles since the diaspora was so diverse. He suggested that there were three broad types of diaspora: (1) Southern Diaspora (2) Western Diaspora (3) Communities Diaspora. He said that his experience of 41 years with diaspora engagements revealed that no matter where the diaspora was located, they have tried to achieve economic stability, maintain values and cultural centres and gradually participate in local politics. He pointed out that a common pattern of diaspora behaviour makes it easier for us to format a common agenda (a common minimum programme for overseas). Though, the first effort must be to define the items we do not wish to include in the agenda, he said. According to him, the following three guiding principles would be useful while defining a diaspora agenda. He said that (1) Nothing should be done to offend local sensibilities. (2) There should be no interference in the country’s internal affairs. (3) India’s policy of secularism should not be compromised. According to him, a common agenda must have the following principal objectives: ! A common pursuit of universal values like democracy, human rights, anti-discrimination ! Major areas of activities — political (there should be more political dialogue), economic (more economic engagement) and culture heritage (overseas Indians 7
Page 1: Pravasi Bharatiya DIVAS PROCEEDINGS
Page 4 and 5: Introduction India is a vibrant nat
Page 6 and 7: Inaugural Session KATHRADA stated t
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?