10 January 2023 /
17th PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS CONVENTION AT INDORE /
Addressing the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Youth Conference on the first day of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention in Indore, Anurag Thakur, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Sports and Youth Affairs called all the overseas Indian youth to innovate and invest in India. The three day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention began in Indore on 8 January 2023. Inaugurating the Convention, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “India will protect its diaspora. India will nurture and protect its diaspora spread across the world”. Inaugurating the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention in Indore on 9 January 2023, Prime Minister called all members of the diaspora to become the representatives of “India’s heritage”.
“In the last eight years, India has tried to strengthen its diaspora. It is India’s commitment today that wherever you are, the country is for your interests and expectations. Lives, the struggles and the contributions of the Pravasi Bharatiyas in their respective countries should be chronicled through Universities and research institutions,” Prime Minister said.
“You are the rashtradoots of India’s heritage, of Make in India, of Yoga and Ayurveda, of India’s cottage industries and handicrafts. At the same time you are also the brand ambassadors of India’s millets,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Convention, highlighting India’s commitment to propagate millets during the ‘International Year of Millets’ in 2023. “G-20 is not just a diplomatic event but it should be turned into a historic event of public participation where one can witness the sentiment of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’,” he said.
Prime Minister Modi met President of Suriname Chandrikapersad Santokhi on the sidelines of the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention and held discussions on various areas of mutual interest including hydrocarbons, defence, maritime security, digital initiatives and ICT.
President Droupadi Murmu attended the valedictory session of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention and conferred ‘Pravasi Bharatiya Samman’ Awards to 27 overseas Indians. The award is conferred as part of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention on Non-Resident Indians, Persons of Indian Origin or an organization established and run by Non-Resident Indians in recognition of their outstanding achievements both in India and abroad.
The Prime Minister launched a commemorative stamp at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas has been observing on 9 January to mark the contributions of the overseas Indian community towards our nation since 2000. This day commemorates the day on which Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in 1915. As per the Ministry of External Affairs, there are nearly 32 million Non-Resident Indians (NRI) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) residing outside India and every year more than 2.5 million migrate overseas, which is the highest overseas diaspora in the world.
