The main event for the Indian government is the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention. It offers a crucial platform for the diaspora to interact with one another and to engage and connect with Indians living abroad. From January 8 to 10, 2023, the Madhya Pradesh Government and the 17th Pravasi Bharatiye Divas Convention will be held in Indore. Diaspora: Reliable Partners for India’s Progress in Amrit Kaal is the theme of this PBD Convention. The PBD Convention has received registrations from more than 3,500 diaspora people from almost 70 different nations.
There will be three sections to the PBD Convention. The Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be inaugurated on January 8, 2023, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. At the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, H. E. Ms. Zaneta Mascarenhas, an Australian member of parliament, will serve as the Guest of Honor.
Shri Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, will preside over the PBD Convention on January 9, 2023. The Special Guest of Honour, H. E. Mr. Chandrikapersad Santokhi, Honorable President of the Republic of Suriname, and Chief Guest, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali of Cooperative Guyana, are also scheduled to speak at the Convention.
To emphasize the significance of safe, legal, orderly, and skilled migration, a commemorative postal stamp will be issued with the words “Surakshit Jaayen, Prashik-shireen.” The first-ever digital PBD Exhibition on the subject of “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav – Contribution of Diaspora in Indian Freedom Struggle” will also be inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime Minister to recognize our diasporan freedom fighters’ contributions to India’s Independence. On January 9, a special Town Hall will also be established in recognition of India’s ongoing G20 presidency.
Honorable Rashtrapati Ji, Smt., on January 10, 2023. The Valedictory Session will be presided over by Droupadi Murmu, who will also present the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards in 2023. Select Indian diaspora members are given Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards to honor their accomplishments and contributions to various fields both domestically and abroad.
There will be five thematic plenary sessions at the PBD Convention.
Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, the minister of youth affairs and sports, is the chair of the first plenary on “The Role of Diaspora Youth in Innovations and New Technologies.”
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, the Minister of Health & Family Welfare, served as the chair of the second plenary on “The Role of Indian Diaspora in Promoting Indian Healthcare Eco-System in Amrit Kaal: Vision @2047,” which was co-chaired by Drs. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh and Rajumar.
Third Plenary on “Leveraging India’s soft power – Goodwill through craft, cuisine, and creativity” was presided over by Smt. Lekhi Meenakashi.
Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, is the chair of the fourth plenary on “Enabling global mobility of Indian workforce – Role of India Diaspora.”
Fifth Plenary, presided over by Minister of Finance Smt., on “Harnessing the potential of diaspora entrepreneurs towards an inclusive approach to nation building.” Sitharaman Nirmala.
Panel discussions featuring renowned diaspora experts will be held at each Plenary session.
The upcoming 17th PBD Convention is significant because it will be held physically after a four-year hiatus and the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic started. During the Pandemic, the 2021 PBD Convention was virtually held.
On the PBD website, http://www.pbdindia.gov.in, and at www.youtube.com/user/MEAIndia, the event would be streamed live.
