Lok Sabha Question No. 521 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-06
Subject: Pravasi Bhartiya Divas
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, S. RAJENDRAN, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., T. RADHAKRISHNAN, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, SUDHEER GUPTA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.521

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2019

## PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS

521. Shri T. Radhakrishnan: Shri S. Rajendran: Kunwar Haribansh Singh: Shri Gajanan Kirtikar: Shri S.R. Vijayakumar: Shri Sudheer Gupta:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh recently;

- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the objectives of organizing Pravasi Bharatiya Divas;
- (c) the   number   of   participants   participated   in   Pravasi   Bharatiya   Divas, Country-wise;
- (d) the issues discussed during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and the outcome thereof; and
- (e) whether any assurance was received from the Indian Diaspora regarding investment in the Country and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) Yes.   The   Government   organised   the   15th   Pravasi   Bharatiya   Divas Convention from 21 to 23 January 2019 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

(b) to (d) Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is a major flagship event of the Ministry, which is held once every two years to reach out and connect to the Indian Diaspora. The objective of this event is to strengthen the engagement of the overseas Indian community with the Government of India and reconnect the diaspora with their cultural roots. The convention also aims to celebrate the achievements of our eminent diaspora in their fields of excellence.

The Convention started with the celebration of the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on 21 January 2019, which was organized in partnership with the Ministry of Youth Affairs, and was specifically aimed at engaging with our young Indian Diaspora. Guest of Honour, Shri Himanshu Gulati ji, Member of Parliament from Norway and Special Guest, Shri. Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, Member of Parliament from New Zealand graced the event.

On the second day, i.e. 22nd January 2019, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention. Prime Minister of Mauritius, Shri Pravind Kumar Jugnauth graced the event as the Chief Guest of the   Pravasi   Bharatiya   Divas.   A   Cultural   Evening   themed   'Ganga   Avataran' showcasing the performance by Smt. Hema Malini was also organized for the delegates.

On the third day of the Convention, i.e. on 23 January 2019, Hon'ble President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind addressed the Valedictory Session of the PBD and conferred   Pravasi   Bharatiya   Samman   Awards   to   30   eminent   and distinguished   Indian-origin   individuals   or   organizations   for   their   outstanding achievements in their chosen fields in India and abroad.

Total number of persons registered for the 15 th   Pravasi Bharatiya Divas held   at   Varanasi   is   7239,   out   of   which   3121   were   registered   from   foreign Countries.

The country wise break-up of the registration of persons from foreign countries is as follows:-

| Country     |   No: of Registrations |
|-------------|------------------------|
| Afghanistan |                      1 |
| Argentina   |                      4 |

| Australia                      |   77 |
|--------------------------------|------|
| Bahrain                        |   58 |
| Bangladesh                     |    1 |
| Belgium                        |    1 |
| Bhutan                         |    1 |
| Botswana                       |    6 |
| British Indian Ocean Territory |    1 |
| Brunei Darussalam              |    1 |
| Bulgaria                       |    7 |
| Cameroon                       |    1 |
| Canada                         |   67 |
| China                          |   18 |
| Cyprus                         |    1 |
| Denmark                        |    4 |
| Djibouti                       |    1 |
| Egypt                          |    1 |
| Equatorial Guinea              |    1 |
| Fiji                           |   48 |
| Finland                        |    1 |
| France                         |   38 |
| Germany                        |    9 |
| Ghana                          |    4 |
| Guyana                         |   31 |
| Hong Kong                      |    5 |
| Iceland                        |    2 |
| Indonesia                      |    8 |
| Iran                           |    1 |
| Ireland                        |    1 |
| Israel                         |    5 |
| Italy                          |    4 |
| Jamaica                        |    2 |
| Japan                          |   13 |
| Jordan                         |    1 |
| Kazakhstan                     |    1 |
| Kenya                          |   18 |
| Kuwait                         |   58 |
| Latvia                         |    3 |
| Liberia                        |    1 |
| Libya                          |    1 |
| Liechtenstein                  |    1 |
| Luxembourg                     |    2 |

| Macedonia           |   1 |
|---------------------|-----|
| Malawi              |   2 |
| Malaysia            | 440 |
| Maldives            |   3 |
| Martinique          |   2 |
| Mauritius           | 413 |
| Mexico              |   1 |
| Mozambique          |   4 |
| Myanmar             |  11 |
| Nepal               |   3 |
| New Zealand         |  14 |
| Nigeria             |   6 |
| Norway              |   6 |
| Oman                | 113 |
| Palau               |   1 |
| Papua New Guinea    |   1 |
| Peru                |   2 |
| Poland              |   7 |
| Portugal            |   2 |
| Qatar               | 156 |
| Reunion             |  26 |
| Romania             |   1 |
| Russian Federation  |   4 |
| Saudi Arabia        |  92 |
| Seychelles          |   5 |
| Sierra Leone        |   1 |
| Singapore           |  74 |
| Slovakia            |   1 |
| South Africa        |  59 |
| South Korea         |   4 |
| Spain               |   5 |
| Sri Lanka           |  13 |
| Sudan               |   1 |
| Suriname            |  21 |
| Sweden              |   4 |
| Switzerland         |  14 |
| Tajikistan          |   2 |
| Tanzania            |   2 |
| Thailand            |  17 |
| The Netherlands     |  16 |
| Trinidad and Tobago |  30 |

| Tunisia                              |    2 |
|--------------------------------------|------|
| Uganda                               |    6 |
| United Arab Emirates                 |  404 |
| United Kingdom                       |  120 |
| United States                        |  488 |
| United States Minor Outlying Islands |    2 |
| Zambia                               |    5 |
| Others                               |    4 |
| Grand Total                          | 3121 |

(e) The 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas gave an important platform for the government to engage with the diaspora, and showcase its various flagship programmes   and   policies   to   the   overseas   Indians.   During   the   event,   the interaction   led   to   an   increased   interest   among   the   Diaspora   in   various investment   opportunities   in   India.   However,   the   objective   of   the   Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is not to gain investment from the diaspora but to connect the diaspora with their Indian roots, and hence no formal assurance was asked from the Indian diaspora regarding investment in the country. *****