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News of Jan
5, 2007
Largest Team for Indian
Diaspora Conclave from US
New
Delhi, Jan 5
The largest delegation of 250 members will come from the US for this
year's Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, India's annual conclave to reach out
to its 25 million diaspora in 110 countries that Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh will inaugurate here Jan 7.
A total of 1,185 delegates have registered for the three-day annual
event organized by the ministry of overseas Indian affairs (MOIA)
with the government of the National Capital Territory as the partner
state.
"A new generation of overseas Indians is taking over all across the
globe and we want them to become a part of India's development
process and share their rich experiences," Minister for Overseas
Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi told reporters.
"We on our part will get then to know their roots and, hopefully,
arouse their Indian sentiment with this conclave," the minister
said, giving an overview of the programs and sessions planned for
this year's Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.
According to ministry officials, the second largest delegation is
coming from Malaysia with 230 members. Leading it will be Samy Vellu,
the country's works minister and president of the Malaysian Indian
Congress.
Malaysia, home to around 1.8 million people of Indian origin, had
sent the largest delegation of 168 members to last year's Pravasi
Bharatiya Divas in Hyderabad. Vellu had led that delegation too.
From India alone, 180 delegates have registered for the fifth
edition of the conclave, being held in partnership with the
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
Other countries from which strong delegations have registered are
coming are Canada, South Africa, Holland and Singapore. From the
Gulf, home to around five million Indians, a 78-member delegation
has registered.
A major highlight of this year's event, Ravi said, would be
interactive sessions with senior ministers and top officials of
eight states, including Delhi, Bihar, Haryana and Gujarat.
"The chief ministers of these states have shown keen interest in
interacting with overseas Indians hailing from their respective
states," Ravi said.
Another important session, he said, is the one on private
international law. The panelists in this session will discuss
problems faced on account of marriages involving overseas Indians.
"We are also very close to signing the Hague Convention in this
regard."
The non-recognition of marriages performed in India often comes in
the way of a harassed bride seeking legal redress abroad and the
Hague Convention enables member-nations to recognize marriages held
in another country.
"When India signs the convention, its citizens abroad will get legal
protection."
There will also be separate region-wise sessions on the US, Gulf and
South Africa among other countries to discuss the problems and
aspirations of the Indian diaspora in those regions.
CII's chief mentor Tarun Das said the key speakers from overseas
include Balaji Sadasivan, Singapore's minister of state for foreign
affairs, information communication and arts, Chicago-based Sam
Pitroda, chairman of India's Knowledge Commission, G. Palanivel,
Malaysia's deputy minister for women, family and community, and
Karan Bilimoria, member of Britain's House of Lords and co-chairman
of the Indo-British Partnership.
This year, the chief guest for the event is Deputy Prime Minister of
Singapore S. Jayakumar.
IANS
News of Jan
5, 2007
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