Bangalore: GOPIO (Global Organization of People of Indian Origin) International will be honouring seven eminent personalities for community service at the Community Service Awards Banquet on January 6 in Jaipur. GOPIO’s annual conference and General Council Meetings will be held on the same day preceding Pravasi Bharatiya Divas from January 7-9.

The seven people who have been selected to receive Community services awards are-

Faisal Kottikollon (Bahrain) - Faisal is an industrialist and philanthropist and also the CEO of Emirates Techno Casting Synergy. He is responsible for setting up of Shabana and Faizal Foundation Charity Organization, which provides helping hand to financially backward people.

Raghunath Manet (France) – Raghunath is a classic Indian dancer and teacher who is associated with UNESCO promote Indian culture and art across the world. He also imparts basic education and training facilities to people, specifically disabled, blind and kids, through his Pondicherry based school.

 Prof. Ved Prakash Nanda (USA) – Prakash Nandha is the Director of the International Legal Studies Programme at the University of Denver. He has been honored with Gandhi award in the year 2004, United Nations Association Human Rights Award in 1997 and World Legal Scholar Award in 1990.

Dr. Rami Ranger, MBE (UK) – Rami Ranger is a businessman who actively participates in community service programmes and helps in raising funds for projects in India. He has helped five fellow Indians to become members of Parliament in Britain to protect India’s interest.

Ajeet Singhvi, MD (USA) - Ajeet is an outstanding physician who worked for more than 30 years to develop a better understanding between Indian and US natives. He has also been closely associated with community leaders to discuss and tackle issues related to health and diseases among Indo- Americans.

Datuk A. Vaithilingham (Malaysia)-Datuk is a national leader of NGO’s who actively participates in social welfare programmes in Malaysia. He is also one among the founder members of Malaysian AIDS Council and Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taosim.

Hendry H Wickramasinghe (Sri Lanka) -Hendry is the Secretary at office of Hon. M.P. Praba Ganeshan who took part in the peace process activities in Sri Lanka, symbolizing Indian origin Tamils. He also worked towards the protection and improvement of temples in Columbo.

K. Mohandas will be recognized with a special award. He is the senior most officer in the Indian administration who served as a Secretary in the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. While being the Secretary he took initiative in solving the issues of Indian communities in other countries.