Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated on 9th
January every year to mark the contribution of Overseas Indian community in the
development of India. January 9 was chosen as the day to celebrate this
occasion since it was on this day in 1915 that Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest
Pravasi, returned to India from South Africa, led India’s freedom struggle and
changed the lives of Indians forever. Established in 2003, it is sponsored by
the Ministry of
Overseas Indian Affairs of the Government of India, the Confederation
of Indian Industry (CII) and the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region of
India. A celebratory event is held on 7–9 January
each year in an Indian city: a forum for issues concerning the Indian Diaspora is
organized and the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards are given.
The
decision to celebrate the "Pravasi Bharatiya Divas" was taken in
accordance with recommendations of the 'High Level Committee on the Indian
Diaspora' (HLC) set up by Government of India under the
chairmanship of Dr. L. M. Singhvi. The Prime Minister,
receiving the report of the Committee at a public function at Vigyan
Bhavan in New Delhi on 8 January 2002, announced the
"Pravasi Bharatiya Divas"(PBD) on 9 January that year. The day was
chosen to mark the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India in 1915.
The
occasion is marked by special programs to recognize the contributions of
NRI/PIO individuals of exceptional merit, felicitate NRI/PIO individuals who
have made exceptional contributions in their chosen field/profession (Pravasi Bharatiya Samman )
and provide a forum to discuss issues and concerns of people of the Diaspora.
The
event has been organized every year since 2003, and is sponsored by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and
the CII (Confederation of Indian Industry),
initially sponsored by FICCI.
The
2012 Pravasi Bhartiya Divas was held from 7–9 January 2012. The venue was
Jaipur, Rajasthan. Chief Guest of this event was the Prime Minister of Trinidad
and Tobago, Ms. Kamla Persad Bissessa
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