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New Delhi : A group of 40 Indian Diaspora youth called on Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju here on December 8, 2018. The participants from eight countries are in India as part of the 25-day visit under the 49th ‘Know India Programme’ (KIP) organised by the Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with Andhra Pradesh Government.           Interacting with the participants, Rijiju said the Indian Diaspora should act as ambassadors of India’s growth story and spread the good word about their experience in India on their return.

“ The Government recognizes the importance of the Indian Diaspora and has a well laid down policy for engaging with the Diaspora community. Our Diaspora community has been an important partner in India’s development. Over the course of your visit across India, you must have seen the development happening across the country,” he said.

“ The Government of India has over the last four-and-a-half years launched several measures / programmes with scope of foreign/ NRI investment like Start-up India scheme, Make in India project along with significant reforms to improve Ease of Doing Business, Liberalization of FDI norms etc. The Government of India has given special focus on disinvestment strategy which offers significant scope of investment to NRIs,” Rijiju said. He encouraged the Indian Diaspora to avail of several schemes targeted towards the youth.

“I invite the Indian origin youth to know more about scholarship programme GIAN (Global Initiative for Academic Network), VAJRA Faculty Scheme which aims at bringing a strong international connect to the R&D ecosystem of India, Mission Shodh GANGA (Global Alliance for New Generation Acceleration), Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC) and Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC),” he said.

The KIP is an important initiative of Government of India with an aim to engage and make the young Indian Diaspora in the age group of 18 to 30 years feel a sense of connect with their motherland, to be motivated and inspired by transformational changes taking place in India and to give them an exposure to various aspects of contemporary India and its varied forms of art, heritage and culture.

Rijiju said the next Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention is significantly being organised in the ancient Varanasi city next month. “We are adding components of the Kumbh Snan and Republic Day celebrations for the Diaspora. We are also inviting the KIP groups to participate in the PBD Convention 2019. We are also organising a special Pravasi Teerth Yatra for the elderly Diaspora. I would urge you to tell your relatives participate in these programmes in great numbers,” he said.

The MEA in partnership with the State Government of Andhra Pradesh has organised the 49th KIP from November 20 to  December 14, 2018, according to a PIB release.

 

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