Pravasi Divas 2011

India's annual convention to connect with its 27-million strong diaspora in over 150 countries concluded 9th january with President PratibhaPatil honouring 14 individuals for their achievements and enhancing India's image globally.

The awardees of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman included New Zealand Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand and the Indian Community Benevolent Forum in Qatar, who were formally honoured on the day India's best-known global Indian, Mahatma Gandhi, returned to India in 1915.

Highlights of the seventh edition of the three-day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas that concluded in Chennai on 9th January, 2011.

• Nearly 1,500 delegates from 48 countries.


• Maximum number of 270 delegates from Malaysia followed by 127 from the US.


• Thirteen prominent Indians abroad presented the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman.


• The Global Indian Knowledge Network launched to create a virtual think tank by connecting the diaspora.


• Qualified professional holding overseas citizen of India card can soon practice in India.


• Smart card to be issued to all Indian workers immigrating from June 1.


• Diaspora recognises that India's growth story remains positive and presents them opportunities for investing.


• Consensus for increased diaspora participation in health, education and rural development under public-private partnership.


• Chief ministers and senior cabinet members of six states outline opportunities during separate interactions with delegates.


• The next mini-PravasiBharatiya Divas will be held in Toronto.

PIOs should opt for MCI card to frequent India:

Govt. Reaching out to the Indian diaspora, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced a special facility to enable them life-long visa-free entry into the country and participation in business and other activities.

Government had decided to merge the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and the Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) cards into a single facility.

Government had introduced the OCI and PIO cards to facilitate visa-free travel of NRIs and Indian Origin people to India as well as to provide them rights of residency and participation in business and educational activities.

After reviewing the functioning of these schemes, Govt has decided to merge the OCI and PIO cards into a single facility with an intention to wipe some of the problems that have arisen in the implementation of these schemes. PIO cards are given to Indians who have migrated permanently to other countries over centuries in a bid to encourage them to visit and invest in the country of origin.

A PIO card holder does not require a visa to visit India and the card is valid for 15 years. A PIO card holder enjoys several economic and educational benefits. On the other hand, the OCI card is a kind of lifelong visa and any India origin person can apply for it if his host country allows dual citizenship.

Talking about the Indians who emigrate for work, prime Minister said their welfare is "a matter of special concern for us". To improve the conditions for migration, India has signed Social Security Agreements with 12 countries and finalised Labour Mobility Partnerships with two others, adding a generic arrangement is also being negotiated with the European Union .

As a further measure, the government has now extended the facility of the Indian Community Welfare Fund to all Indian Missions. At present, such funds are available in 42 Missions.

The government has also decided to establish new Indian cultural centres in the US, Canada, Saudi Arabia, France and Australia. All the Indian communities in these countries urged to support and patronise these centres so that they become effective instruments for projecting the diversity and splendour of Indian culture.

India not after NRIs' money, Montek tells diaspora

Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia dispelled the impression that India was after NRI funds saying that more than 95 per cent of investment comes from domestic sources.



"I think we can get rid of the notion that we are connecting with the NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) because we want investment...we are not reaching out to NRIs because we need money," Ahluwalia said at the PravasiBhartiya Divas organised by the government in collaboration with industry chamber CII .

"At least 95 per cent of investments in the country is domestic investment," Ahluwalia said adding, "if you feel your money is well spent here, you are welcome... If you think in another country you can do better... as an economist I will tell you that is exactly what you should do."

Sharing the dais with Ahluwalia, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Valyar Ravi said, "The NRIs share in the foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country is just 1.3 per cent."

According to the latest government data, the cumulative FDI in the country since 1991 stands at USD 179.45 billion.

Although, the NRI investment in the country is not huge, but the remittances from workers are significant. India received USD 46.9 billion as remittances during 2008-09.

Ahluwalia pointed out, "We are reaching out (to NRIs) because we value the long, socio-cultural footprint that we all share.

"So, honestly I would tell you, if you don't feel ready to invest in India, don't be apologetic. It's our job to get investors...Indian or foreigner doesn't matter," he added.

India is planning to double the investment in infrastructure to USD one trillion in the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) compared to USD 500 billion in the current Plan.

* * * * *

IPL 4 - News

Action-packed auction comes to an end

After two days of intense bidding, the player auction for the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League finally came to a close in Bangalore. Big money was spent on the likes of Daniel Christian and VenugopalRao, UmeshYadav and Munaf Patel. But SouravGanguly was again ignored by the franchises, to the dismay of his fans in Kolkata.

Earlier, unheralded Australian all-rounder Daniel Christian was bought for an astounding USD 900,000 (RS 4.14 croreapprx) by Deccan Chargers while veteran Sri Lankan batsman SanathJayasuriya found no takers on the second day of the auctions for the fourth edition of IPL here today.
After intense bidding for the top players on the first day which saw Indian opener GautamGambhir being bought for a record-smashing 11.04 crore, it was a quieter affair on the second day with only 35 players being sold and 85 remaining unsold. Former ODI specialist Mohammed Kaif and Lankan pacer ChamindaVaas also found no takers. In a relatively low-key day, it was Christian who hogged the limelight as he was bought by Deccan 18 times more than his base price of USD 50,000.

No one could have even imagined that the 27-year-old from New South Wales will go for such a price. He has played three T20 internationals for Australia. Christian is primarily a fast bowler who can hit a long way in the lower order," We believe Dan Christian is a good buy. He is good fast bowler and a decent batsman. He is also a brilliant fielder," Chargers owner Gayathri Reddy said.



Delhi Daredevils were the biggest gainers as they snapped up fringe fast bowlers. UmeshYadav with a base price of USD 50,000 went for a whopping USD 750,000 while former KKR pacer Ashok Dinda was bought for USD 375,000. Veteran pacer AjitAgarkar was bought for USD 210,000.
Munaf Patel was bought by Mumbai Indians for USD 700,000 (apprRs 3.1 crore) while Mohammed Kaif went unsold at the auction.

RanganathVinay Kumar was bought by Kochi for USD 475,000 while ManpreetGony was bought by Deccan for USD 290,000.However,paceman VRV Singh was a prominent Indian player who went unsold. Chennai Super Kings who have been on a retention mode also got back SudeepTyagi (USD 240,000), Joginder Sharma (USD 150,000) while roping in SurajRandiv for as cheap as USD 80,000.



It was, however, Kolkata Knight Riders who poached L Balaji from CSK for USD 500,000. The KKR retained JaidevUnadkat buying him for USD 250,000. There were a few surprises also as unfancied Netherlands cricketer Ryan ten Doeschate was bought for USD 150,000 by Royal Challengers Bangalore. Doeschate was ICC's Associate Player of the Year.
Another surprising move was India discard VenugopalRao getting a staggering deal of USD 700,000 (Rs 3.22 crore)from Delhi Daredevils.

Sahara Pune Warriors, who remained quiet for the better part of the first session, got a good deal in South African pacer Wayne Parnell (USD 160,000) and West Indian Jerome Taylor (USD 100,000).



There was some stiff bidding between Pune and Kings XI Punjab for Australian Mitchell Marsh. However, the junior-most Marsh will play for Pune under his father Geoff Marsh's tutelage rather than being a teammate of his elder brother Shaun.MichaelYardy of England, Jacob Oram and Kyle Mills of New Zealand, Ravi Bopara, Monty Panesar and Tim Bresnan of England and FervezMahroof of Sri Lanka, Shivnarine Chanderpaul of West Indies, MakhayaNtini and LonwaboTsotsobe of South Africa were among the prominent players who went unsold.

Gambhir had yesterday become the costliest cricketer in the IPL by fetching a whopping USD 2.4 million (approxRs 11.04 crore) on the first day of the auctions where Indian players proved to be the biggest draw with three others going for more than USD two million. In a high-profile auction, Kolkata Knight Riders bought Gambhir for the mind-boggling sum, beating the previous high set by the English duo of Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff (USD 1.55 million) last season.



Gambhir, who was captain of the Delhi Daredevils last season, saw his price skyrocket 12 times from his base price of USD 200,000 (Rs 92 lakh) while three other Indian players -- Yusuf (USD 2.1 million), Rohit Sharma (USD 2 million) and Robin Uthappa (2.1 million) crossed the two million mark. Yusuf's younger brother Irfan, who has not played any cricket this season, was taken by Delhi Daredevils for a surprisingly high amount of USD 1.9 (Rs 8.74 crore) million.

* * * * *

* * * * *

State heading for President's Rule?

Two days after the Justice B N Srikrishna Committee report on Telangana was made public, Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and is believed to have discussed the situation in Andhra Pradesh arising out of the recommendations made by the Srikrishna committee report.



Bandhs and protests have rocked the Telangana region ever since the committee report was released on Thursday. The report had said that a united Andhra Pradesh with constitutional statuary powers to Telangana region was the "best way forward".

After the meeting, Narasimhan parried questions on whether the state was heading towards President''s rule.

* * * * *

Bigg Boss 4' and its controversies come to grand end, Shweta winner

After raising far too many eyebrows along its 14-week run, 'Bigg Boss 4' has ended. With over-the-top cat fights, verbal abuse galore, a much publicized wedding, and romance that was often too intimate for viewers' comfort, the season did in a way live up to its promise of being bigger.

Colors' 'Bigg Boss 4' had newer attractions, a state-of-the-art house, a live wire host in Bollywood star Salman Khan, interesting contestants, including two from Pakistan, and special appearances by film stars.

Season four saw incessant verbal abuses hurled over trivial matters, a sensation caused by the televised wedding of participant, actress Sara Khan with her beau Ali Merchant, and then the government hauling it up for 'offending good taste'.

It started with 14 contestants, including Mumbai terror attack accused Mohammad AjmalKasab's former lawyer Abbas Kazmi; thief-turned-detective Devinder Singh alias SuperchorBunty; actor Ashmit Patel, who was involved in an MMS scandal; former dacoit SeemaParihar and filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt's son Rahul Bhatt, who was friends with terror operative David Headley, accused of scouting targets for Mumbai attack.

There were two contestants from Pakistan - actress and former girlfriend of fast bowler Mohammed Asif, Veena Malik, and cross-dressing diva and television personality Begum Nawazish Ali, apart from Indian TV actresses, ShwetaTiwari and Sara Khan, former MTV.

But it was Shweta who finally emerged the winner and walked away with the trophy and a cash prize of Rs.1 crore at a befitting, star-studded finale.

* * * * *