The Hindu Business Line : Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to focus on healthcare

The Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, Mr Vayalar Ravi, with the CII President, Mr Sunil Bharti Mittal, at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas press conference in the Capital on Wednesday. - Ramesh Sharma

Our Bureau

New Delhi, Nov. 7 Announcing the forthcoming Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) 2008, Mr Vayalar Ravi, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, said that healthcare, education and empowerment of rural women will be the focus of the event.

Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of Mauritius, will be the Chief Guest of PBD 2008. “This is especially fortuitous since he is of Indian origin,” the Minister said.

The Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh, will inaugurate the programme on January 8, 2008.

The forthcoming PBD is being organised by Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) from January 7-9, 2008 with the institutional partnership of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

PBD 2008 will culminate with a valedictory address and conferment of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award by the President on January 9, 2007.

PBD 2008 includes a two-day convention featuring diverse themes with eminent speakers, trade and industry exhibition, business networking, and cultural evenings.

Fraudulent marriages

Talking on the issue of Indian women subjected to fraudulent marriages, the Minister said that India has moved application to different countries to adopt International Private Laws to bring the non-resident Indians under the Indian jurisdiction. The Netherlands has already put forward the draft for legislative approval, the Minister informed.

Appreciating the Indian industry’s contribution, Mr Ravi said that 48,000 of 50,000 Indians, who faced the problem of deportation due to issues with sponsors, were re-employed by Indian companies.

He added that India’s development initiatives can reach the district level through small contributions of the large Indian diaspora. The ambitious ‘Health Mission’ of the Government can also be a key area of contribution by NRIs, he said.