Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurated the Sixth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Delhi on Tuesday. While addressing more than 1,000 delegates arrived from more than 35 countries to attend the meeting, Singh said that the idea of India transcended the narrow barriers of religion, language, caste or class, both within and outside the country.

Mr. Singh also launched an ‘Overseas Workers Resource Center’ (OWRC) to provide all relevant information and support to potential migrant workers. He also announced to set up a Prime Minister’s Global Advisory Council of People of Indian Origin.

According to him, the security and welfare of Indian living outside country is a top priority of our Indian diplomatic missions to other countries.

Dr. Navin Chandra Ramagoolam, the Honourable Prime Minister of Mauritius was distinguished as the Chief Guest in the sixth Pravasi Bhartiya Divas. During his address, PM said that the year 2007 has been a good year for the Indian economy and India is likely to sustain nine to ten percent growth rates in coming days. The higher growth rate will transform Indian economy as a major powerhouse in new global world.

He also said that the government is seriously thinking to take initiative step to work on India’s ‘Education Plan’ by focusing on education to make it as an instrument of empowerment of people. He told about the theme of sixth Pravasi Bhartiya Divas as ‘Engaging the Diaspora: The way forward’.

Diaspora philanthropy is not a new phenomenon for Indian living abroad. Apart from making contributions at times of national calamity, like earthquakes and tsunami, many of NRIs are already engaged in various development initiatives in India.

The biggest delegation has come from Malaysia with a team of 138 members. About 125 delegates have come from USA, 120 from Mauritius, 60 from the Gulf, 29 from Canada, 70 from African nations, 15 from Singapore and 68 from European nations.

According to the report, President Pratibha Patil will give the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards to people of Indian origins such as astronaut Sunita Williams and Lord Karan Bilimoria of Britain, Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Rangoolam on the last day of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.

Via: PIB Press Release