Bhubaneswar: The three-day 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention kicked off to a flying start at the Bhubaneswar Janata Maidan on Wednesday. The convention was inaugurated by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Minister for External Affairs (MEA) S Jaishankar and Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandavya who lighted the ceremonial lamp at the beginning of the inaugural session ‘Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas’
The convention began with the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas event being organised by the Odisha government in partnership with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The other sessions on Wednesday include the Plenary Session I – Beyond Borders: Diaspora Youth Leadership in a Globalized World and ‘Joint Business Session between MEA and Odisha’.
Addressing the Indian diaspora at the event, Jaishankar said, “Let me take the opportunity to urge you on behalf of Prime Minister Modi to promote India as a tourism destination. If young Indian PIOs bring their equally young friends from abroad to explore our uniquely rich and diverse heritage and culture, this will surely become a lifelong habit.”
Jaishankar said it is critical to invest in youths in order to achieve their full potential, as he highlighted various campaigns and programmes to develop India undertaken since 2014 under the leadership of PM Modi.
“Whether it is Swacch Bharat or Beti Padhao, Awas or Anna Yojana, Mudra or Swanidhi, Ayushman Bharat or Jal Jeevan, each one of them has been a transformational effort. However, if you were to see them in their entirety, connecting those dots will give you an appreciation of how we are securing the future of our youth. They will help bring their skills and creativity to the fore, ensuring that India’s talents are fully available to the global workplace,” the minister asserted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take part in the inaugural session Thursday, while President Droupadi Murmu will preside over the valedictory session Friday. Murmu will also confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman upon members of the Indian diaspora to recognise their achievements in various fields.
PM Modi will also remotely flag off the inaugural Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special tourist train for the diaspora, which will depart from the Nizamuddin station in Delhi and travel to multiple destinations for three weeks.
He will also inaugurate four exhibitions at the convention — on the legacy of Ramayana, the diaspora’s contribution to technology and ‘Viksit Bharat’, the evolution of the Indian diaspora with a focus on ‘Mandvi to Muscat’, and the heritage and culture of Odisha.
The convention will have five thematic plenary sessions, such as ‘Beyond Borders: Diaspora Youth Leadership in a Globalised World’, ‘Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers: Stories of Migrant Skills’, ‘Green Connections: Diaspora’s Contributions to Sustainable Development’,
‘Diaspora Divas: Celebrating Women’s Leadership and Influence – Nari Shakti’, and ‘Diaspora Dialogues: Stories of Culture, Connection and Belongingness’.
Trinidad and Tobago President Christine Carla Kangaloo is the chief guest of this edition, which is being held on the theme ‘Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit Bharat’. She will address the convention virtually.
The organisers have selected 21 destinations in Bhubaneswar, Puri and Jajpur have been selected for the visit of the delegates. Around delegates are expected to attend the convention.
