Vayalar Ravi Calls for Cementing Diaspora Bonds26 Sep :The Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Mr Vayalar Ravi today asked the youth of Indian origin to know and understand India and cement the bonds with it. Addressing diaspora youths from ten countries in New Delhi, he said, India is proud of the present generation of diaspora who are placed in prominent positions across the globe.
Mr Ravi lauded the fighting spirit of Indian immigrants and said their offspring should learn about their socio-cultural roots through direct interaction with India.
The 31 foreign youths of Indian origin met the Minister after completing a three week journey to see and understand the development and achievements of India. They shared their experience with the Minister and described the trip as meaningful and beneficial. The youths had an interaction with the President Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil at Rashtrapati Bhavan yesterday. They visited various prominent places and institutions in Delhi including the IIT. The youth are leaving for their homes on the 28th of this month on completion of their visit.
These diaspora youth in the age group of 18-26 years constitute students and professionals. They came to India under the Know India Programme (KIP) of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. A maximum of 12 participants have come from South Africa, followed by 6 from Israel. All expenditure except a one-way fare is borne by the Government of India.
After arriving in Mumbai on the 7th of this month, these youths started off for Gujarat on the first leg of their India tour. In Gujarat, the group spent 8 days. They visited the diamond industry in Surat, Gujarat Narmada Fertiliser Company, Harappan ruins, the Amul cooperative in Anand, Sabarmati Ashram, Gandhi Dham, Dandi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Museum, and IIM, Ahmadabad. The group visited Uttar Pradesh for duration of 9 days. They went to the historic cities of Agra, Allahabad, Lucknow and Varanasi. Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh were the two partner states for the programme this year. The youth had interaction with Indian youths, women organizations and also visited Gram Panchayats.
The ‘Know India Programme’ (KIP), is implemented in partnership with a State Government and the logistics support of the Nehru Yuvak Kendra and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The three-week internship programme is designed to promote awareness about India, its socio-cultural diversities, its emergence as an economic powerhouse, a centre of higher education and the ongoing developments in the infrastructure, technology & other sectors. It also enables the visiting youth to share their experience, expectations and views and to bond closely with contemporary India.
The earlier KIP was held from 26th December 2007 to 18th January, 2008 in partnership with the State of Tamil Nadu. KIP is among a whole range of efforts by the MOIA to forge close linkages between India and its overseas community.