PM Modi arrives in Indore to inaugurate 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention

Indore: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Madhya Pradesh’s commercial capital on Monday for the formal inauguration of the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention at the Brilliant Convention Centre.

The Prime Minister was received at the airport by Governor Mangubhai Patel, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, state Home Minister Narottam Mishra, Culture Minister Usha Thakur and other personages.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention is the flagship event of the Government of India that provides an important platform to engage and connect with the overseas Indians and to enable the diaspora to interact with each other.

The theme of this PBD Convention is "Diaspora: Reliable partners for India’s progress in Amrit Kaal”.

Over 3,500 diaspora members from nearly 70 different countries have registered for the PBD Convention, the MEA said.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention will have three segments.

The inauguration of the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was held on Sunday in partnership with Ministry of Youth affairs and Sports.

On Monday, the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will feature addresses by the Chief Guest, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the President of Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and the Special Guest of Honour, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, President of the Republic of Suriname.

A Commemorative Postal Stamp ‘Surakshit Jaayen, Prashikshit Jaayen’ will be released to underline the importance of safe, legal, orderly and skilled migration.

The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the first-ever digital PBD Exhibition on theme 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav - Contribution of Diaspora in Indian Freedom Struggle' to highlight the contribution of our diaspora freedom fighters in India’s Independence.

In view of India’s ongoing Presidency of the G20, a special Town Hall will also be organized on Monday.

On Tuesday, President Droupadi Murmu will confer Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards 2023 and preside over the Valedictory Session.

Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards are conferred to select Indian diaspora members to recognize their achievements and honour their contributions to various fields, both in India and abroad.

The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention also has five thematic Plenary sessions: 'Role of Diaspora Youth in Innovations and new Technologies', ‘Role of Indian Diaspora in promoting Indian Healthcare Eco-system in Amrit Kaal: Vision @2047’, 'Leveraging the soft power of India - Goodwill through craft, cuisine and creativity’, ‘Enabling global mobility of Indian workforce – Role of Indian Diaspora’ and on ‘Harnessing the potential of diaspora entrepreneurs towards an inclusive approach to nation building’.

The forthcoming 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention holds significance as it is being organized as a physical event after a gap of four years and first after the onset of Covid-19 pandemic.

The last Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention in 2021 was held virtually during the Pandemic. (UNI)