Health, education and skill development are key priorities in the strategy of inclusive development and constitute the focus areas in the 12th Plan said Smt Pratibha Devisingh Patil, President of India in her Valedictory speech at the 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) organized jointly by Ministry of Overseas India Affairs (Government of India), Government of Rajasthan and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Jaipur. She said that Government will spend adequate resources to ensure maximum efficiency in outcomes in these identified focus areas.  

President complimented the determination and will power of the overseas Indians along with their never giving up attitude. She said that the footprints of the Indian diaspora are widespread. Overseas Indian community is becoming influential in the economic and political fields in their countries of residence, and can play a key role taking forward India’s interests.

“We must continue to promote greater exchanges between the youth as an important aspect of forging linkages and maintaining the tradition of close bonds” emphasized the President. Further President reiterated the Government’s resolve to strengthen the engagement with the overseas Indians in nation building.

President also gave away the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards to – H E Ms Kamla Persad Bissessar (Prime Minister, Trinidad & Tobago) for her outstanding contribution in public service and fostering closer relations between India and Trinidad & Tobago, Mr P V Radhakrishna Pillai (Bahrain) for his outstanding contribution to the Indian community, Prof Sachchidanand Sahai (Cambodia) for his scholarly work, Indo – Canada Chamber of Commerce (Canada) for its role in fostering relation between India and Canada, Mr Deepak Naraindas Shivdasani (Cote D’Ivoire) for his services to the Indian community and promoting India in Africa, Dr Victor Shahed Smetacek (Germany) for his outstanding contributions in the field of science, Mr Sri Prakash Lohia (Indonesia) for enhancing the Indian community’s prestige abroad, Mr Jose Parayanken (Mozambique) for furthering the Indian community’s interests abroad through his activities, Mr Kiran Navinchandra Aher (Oman) for his outstanding contribution to the Indian community abroad, Mr Hassan Abdulkarim Chougule (Qatar) for his contributions towards the welfare of the Indian community abroad, Dr Khorshed Noshir Ginwala-Rustomjee (South Africa) for her outstanding contributions to the local community and public service, Mr Rajesh Kumar Saraiya (Ukraine) for his contributions in the field of business and for outstanding community service, Prof Surendra Kumar Kaushik (USA) for his contributions in the field of economics and for enhancing the Indian community’s stature abroad, and Dr Kalpalatha Kummamuri Guntupalli (USA) for her contributions in the field of medicine and for outstanding public service. Also awarded was H E Mr S R Nathan, Former President, Singapore, for his outstanding contributions in the field of public service, in abstentia.

H E Ms Kamla Persad Bissessar, Prime Minister, Trinidad & Tobago & Chief Guest at the 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) 2012 said that the only passport out of poverty to a better life is Education, which is a priority amongst Indians. She added that the Indian values help the diaspora during the good and not so good times.

Complementing India, she said that India has become truly global. The cultural and economic power house that India is today, impacts lives of people beyond its borders. She concluded by urging the young diaspora to participate in the PBD with enthusiasm.

Referring to the chosen theme, “Global Indians - Inclusive Growth”, Mr Vayalar Ravi, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India said diaspora can play a very constructive role in the inclusive growth agenda of the Government. Knowledge, philanthropy and entrepreneurship, by the diaspora can facilitate inclusivity, he added.

In his welcome address, Mr Parvez Dewan, Secretary, Ministry of Overseas India Affairs said that the Ministry will continue to support and engage with the diaspora. 

Mr Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII said that the overseas Indians are brand ambassadors of India and bridge to the outside the world. CII has been at the forefront of engaging with the vast diaspora across the world. He said that PBD 2012 was the most successful edition of the PBD attended by 2,014 delegates from 60 countries.

Dr Kalpalatha Kummamuri Guntupalli, Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awardee in her acceptance speech said that the awardees are very grateful to the President and Government of India for the honour. We left India but India never left us, she said.

Also present at the Valedictory Session were H E Mr Shivraj V Patil, Governor, Rajasthan, Mr Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister, Government of Rajasthan, Mr Mahadeo Singh Khandela, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Government of India and Mr Devisingh Shekhawat.

Jaipur

9 January 2012