External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) on Monday.
The stage is all set for the beginning of 15th edition of PBD 2019 in Varanasi on Monday. For the first time in the history of PBD, the event is being held in Varanasi, the cultural and spiritual capital of India.
Over the next three days, from January 21 to 23 the city will witness scores of sessions, seminal talks by experts and luminaries in their fields, cultural programmes and visit of the NRIs to renowned places of Kashi, Sarnath and Ganga Ghats among others.
The theme for PBD this year is the “Role of Indian Diaspora in building New India”. Several world leaders of Indian origin will share their insights into the role of Indian diaspora for a New India.
Major events include –
Youth PBD: The opening day on Monday was marked by the Youth PBD with the focus on the generation next especially from Uttar Pradesh. The young diaspora will engage with its counterparts back home in India. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj along with UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, , Minister of State Sports and Youth Affairs Colonel Rajyawardhan Singh Rathore shared the dais with Member of Parliament from New Zealand Kanwal Jeet Singh Bakshi and MP from Norway Himanshu Gulati among others.
Plenary: On January 22, PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate the PBD with Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jugnath as the Chief Guest. Several plenary sessions will be held on issues ranging from challenges and opportunities to sustainable development, artificial intelligence and cyber capacity. PM Modi will also host a lunch for the Heads of states and over fifty selected Pravasi Bhartiya delegates and leaders.
Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Award: The Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Award (PSBA) is the highest honour conferred on overseas Indian. It will be conferred by the President Ram Nath Kovind on January 23 to selected NRIs, PIOs, organisation or institution established and run by the NRIs who have made significant contribution to various fields both in India and abroad.
Cultural Events: Numerous cultural activities have been embedded in such a way that the delegates may get a very enticing, enriching and fulfilling experience. Several exhibitions including a digital exhibition on the theme of ‘Ek Bharat Swacch Bharat: Sardar Patel and Gandhi ke Sapno ka Bharat, has been put up among others. These exhibitions are being organised at TFC Bada Lalpur, BHU and the Tent City.
The Ghats of Ganga have specially been decorated to welcome the guests with their divine attraction.
