Make In India To Be Highlighted At PBD, 3,000 Diaspora To Attend

The officials looking after the Make in India, Swachch Bharat, Skill India, Clean Ganga projects and Tourism would tell the Diaspora about the schemes and invite investments from the Diaspora. Sushma Swaraj also denied that the decision to host the event in Gujarat this time was taken after the new government came into power.  She said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had four years ago, while he was chief minister of Gujarat, proposed hosting PBD in Gujarat in 2015 and had written about it to the then prime minister Manmohan Singh.

To another question, she said that the ministry is working to merge the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cards with the Person of Indian Origin (PIO) cards and ensure lifelong visa to the holders. On a proposal to grant voting rights to NRIs, Sushma Swaraj said that they are examining several suggestions, including having Electronic Voting Machines placed in embassies during elections, allowing proxy voting or having the Diaspora member to come home to vote. 
"There is no decision yet, we are thinking of a solution," she said.

To criticism that the PBD events end up becoming places for the businesspersons to interact, she said that this time they have "tried to balance the Aam Admi and the businessperson" and cited the special events being held for the Diaspora to address their concerns.

The Indian ambassadors of six Gulf countries have been invited to address the special session on diaspora living in those countries. The event would kick off Jan 7 with a Youth PBD where the children of Indian Diaspora would participate and be given an insight into the culture and heritage of India as well as its achievements, including in space and IT. On Jan 8, Prime Minster Modi would inaugurate the main session and Jan 9, President Pranab Mukherjee would give away the Pravasi Bharatiya Sammans to 15 eminent Diaspora members

.Also Read:Here Are The 10 Richest Corporations In The World
India To Remain World's Fourth Largest Steel Maker This Year