Next week will see the beginning of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) (January 8-10). This year's conference has been planned differently from previous PBDs. After the inaugural session, there would be a Plenary Session, with the minister for overseas Indian affairs and Cabinet ministers of Government of India and chief ministers of states. Fourteen working groups, comprising seven to eight overseas experts from all over the world and two to three Indian experts, will discuss various issues of national importance. The committee chairs would finalise and present reports by the next day to the government. There will be a valedictory session thereafter. This year, participation in the PBD conference will be through invitation only and not through the online registration as before. Indian missions abroad would identify experts from among overseas Indians on identified subjects. While earlier PBDs focussed only on meetings with the diaspora, PBD Conference 2016 will attempt expert studies on various issues concerning the diaspora and areas of mutual benefit to India and to them. This will then feed into new policies for both India and its engagement with the diaspora. The traditional PBD convention will be held every alternative year, with the partner State: in this case, in 2017.
An online quiz called 'Bharat Janiye' is already underway. The winner of the quiz will be felicitated at the PBD 2016.
In the season for non-resident Indian (NRI) felicitation, Uttar Pradesh (UP) has also got into the act and will host its first ever NRI Divas focussed on the state's diaspora on Monday and Tuesday at Agra. UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav will address NRIs and is tipped to 'unveil major policy decisions and initiatives for the diaspora'.The state government recently established a full-fledged department of NRI affairs, meant to address problems faced by families of NRIs. The state is also planning to roll out its own cards to certify NRIs/people of Indian origin (PIOs) from UP, "which would entitle the bearer to prompt response whenever he/ she meets a government functionary in addition to multiple other third-party benefits. Felicitation of the NRIs/ PIOs for outstanding contribution towards the state is also on the anvil", a statement says.
An online quiz called 'Bharat Janiye' is already underway. The winner of the quiz will be felicitated at the PBD 2016.
In the season for non-resident Indian (NRI) felicitation, Uttar Pradesh (UP) has also got into the act and will host its first ever NRI Divas focussed on the state's diaspora on Monday and Tuesday at Agra. UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav will address NRIs and is tipped to 'unveil major policy decisions and initiatives for the diaspora'.The state government recently established a full-fledged department of NRI affairs, meant to address problems faced by families of NRIs. The state is also planning to roll out its own cards to certify NRIs/people of Indian origin (PIOs) from UP, "which would entitle the bearer to prompt response whenever he/ she meets a government functionary in addition to multiple other third-party benefits. Felicitation of the NRIs/ PIOs for outstanding contribution towards the state is also on the anvil", a statement says.