India has urged its diaspora to work together for mutual benefit. Addressing the concluding ceremony of the 9th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas in New Delhi last evening, President Pratibha Devisingh Patil said, the government wants to engage with Indian community overseas for bilateral growth in all spheres of life and nation building.

Terming Indian economy a robust one, she said, as India grows rapidly its hold out immense opportunities to the world. Calling the Indians overseas a knowledge diaspora, Mrs. Patil said, their expertise and skills will be a vital resource for India’s effort to forge inclusive growth for all its citizens. She said, there is immense opportunity for the diaspora to work with government in public-private partnership.

AIR correspondent reports the three day event which concluded yesterday could be called the largest ever Pravasi Bhartiya Divas with over 2000 participants from over fifty countries.

It has been amply made clear by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh that it has to be a saga of two-way growth. Emergence of India on the global scenario as a major power with robust economy capable of withstanding global recession has put the country in the formidable position.

All the permanent five heads of state visited India last year seeking bilateral engagements. This shows that the world wants India to play a bigger role, and this gives immense opportunities to the overseas Indians to work with the government in a public private partnership mode as well.

Government’s decision to merge the Overseas Citizen of India and the Persons of Indian Origin cards into a single facility enabling Indian diaspora life-long visa-free entry into the country and participation in business and other activities in India, extending Indian Community Welfare Fund to all Indian Missions abroad to help Indians in distress, and signing Social Security Agreements with 12 countries and negotiating with others, establishing new Indian cultural centres in the US, Canada, Saudi Arabia, France and Australia, speaks volumes what India is willing to do for its own diaspora across the globe.

The President also gave away Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Award to 15 Overseas Indians who have done outstanding work for India and the Indian community across the globe.

The Awardees include Governor General of New Zealand Sir Anand Satyanand, Scientist from Australia, Prof. Veena H. Sahajwalla, Malaysian businessman Tan Sri Dato Ajit Singh, Saleh Wahid from Netherlands and Dr. Rajiv Shah from US among others.