The newly elected Government gives high priority to engagement with Indian Diaspora and, the Government is ready to stand by them in time of need to make the Diaspora take pride in India, said Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Minister for External Affairs and Overseas Indian Affairs on the India’s Diaspora Policy and its various dimensions on the occasion of first Baleshwar Agrawal Memorial Lecture organised by Antar-Rashtriya Sahayog Parishad (Indian Council for International Co-operation) at India International Centre, Delhi.
She further said that Baleshwar Agrawal-who headed Antar-Rashtiya Sahayog Parishad (ARSP), registered in 1978 for strengthening links with the People of Indian Origin living in different parts of the world- had become synonymous with Indian Diaspora as he devoted his whole life for their cause.
Splendid Pravasi Bharatiya Bhawan is being built in Delhi to provide all types of logistic facilities for Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) & NRIs on the lines of India Habitat Centre. Pravasi Bharatiya Bhawan will be ready for inauguration by January 9.
On the economic agenda of the new Government regarding developing infrastructure, building 100 smart cities, opening new IITs & AIIMs, she said that the new world is lining up to participate in India’s growth story and the Indian Diaspora should also avail most of these opportunities.
She said, Indian Diaspora has presented a good example of patriotism to their adopted countries and at the same time has retained the Indian cultural ethos.
A statue of late Shri Baleshwar Agrawal was unveiled by Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister for Health & Family Welfare on the occasion of his 93rd Birth Anniversary in the premises. Later, Shri Lal Krishan Advani, highlighted the role of language and culture in unifying the Diaspora around the world.
Many dignitaries included former Diplomat and envoys from Mauritius, Fiji, Guyana, Suriname, Bhutan, Indonesia and the Director General of ICCR were present on the occasion.
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