NEW DELHI, Jan 6: Engaging with the youth and discussions on healthcare will be key focus areas of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2014 which kicks off here tomorrow.
This year’s theme is “Engaging Diaspora: Connecting Across Generations” and the Youth PBD is expected to open new horizons of a strong network of young overseas Indians to contribute to India’s engagement with youth in all sectors.
“Engaging with the youth and healthcare will one of the major sectors where discussions will take place this year,” Overseas Indian Affairs minister Vayalar Ravi told reporters.
To be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Malaysia’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Y B Datuk Seri Palanivel will be the chief guest.
Ravi said Palanivel is a very prominent leader of Indian origin as well as an important politician.
President Pranab Mukherjee will deliver the valedictory address on January 9 and will confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards which will be given to 14 people this time.
Ravi said a special session on “Issues of NRIs in the Gulf” will also be organised this year to discuss the problems faced by them and their possible remedies.
Apart from that sessions on “Sharing a common heritage: the emotional connect” and on young achievers, plenary session on India’s growth and development agenda, India’s soft power, PBD oration, investment opportunities in states and parallel state sessions will also be held.
Concurrent sessions on innovation and technology and “Healthcare Opportunities in India” will also be organised.
This year’s event is also expected to witness large participation from delegates across the world.
“Already 700 delegates have registered. Usually registration comes in the last day. Last year, only 400-500 delegates were there. The number of participants will increase. We are also talking to different associations around the world… People from 50 countries have already registered,” Ravi said.
However, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi may not be able to take part in the session in the Youth PBD.
“I discussed it with him (Rahul) personally and the idea was to invite him for the youth conference but unfortunately he won’t be here that day (January 7). I will discuss again. I hope he comes for a day and spend some time with the foreign delegates,” Ravi said.
Apart from that, the chief ministers’ conference will also be an important session.
“There will be a separate session of chief ministers for those who are interested to discuss with them about opportunity of investment and how state governments can help them… The CMs can explain to them about available resources,” said Ravi.
To be organised at Vigyan Bhavan, chief ministers of Gujarat, Kerala, Meghalaya, Goa and Haryana will deliver special address at the event.
“… I have invited all the chief ministers. I have also invited the new chief minister of Delhi…,” Ravi said.
He said this year, his ministry will partner with the ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to host the event.
On a question whether this year’s PBD will witness two PM candidates together, he said, “… We have invited only chief ministers… If any chief minister wants to aspire to become PM… I am helpless.”
Asked to comment if Narendra Modi’s presence and a separate session by BJP will help him woo NRIs, Ravi said, “I don’t think presence of Modi or a speech… They can make so much of shift… If Modi could, he would have been PM 20 years ago. I don’t think presence of a person can make much difference.”
He maintained that Modi has taken part in previous PBDs.
“I have invited all the chief ministers and the BJP organises such meet every time. How can I prevent it?”
He also said that the Devyani Khobragade row seems to be over.
“I have not dealt with the subject…Government of India has its own view as it has to protect the citizens. Anything happens to them, we have to take it seriously and that is what the Government has done. It (row) is almost over,” he said in reply to a question. (PTI)
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