High Commission of India, Port Louis, Mauritius

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Celebration of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 9th January 2018

High Commission of India

Port Louis

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Celebration of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

9^th January 2018

India is celebrating the 16^th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) on 9^th January 2018, to commemorate the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa on this date in 1915, and to mark the contribution of overseas Indian Community towards the development of India.

2. To forge stronger ties with the People of Indian Origin (PIO), this year, the first PIO Parliamentary Conference was held today in New Delhi. About 134 Parliamentarians from 24 countries including, Mauritius, South Africa, Guyana, Fiji, Kenya, UK, USA, Canada and New Zealand participated in the conference.

3. Following eleven Members of Parliament and two Mayors from Mauritius took part in this conference:

SN.	Name	Party
1.	Hon Mr S. Ramkaun	Militant Socialist Movement
2.	Hon Mr T. Benydin	Muvman Liberater
3.	Hon Mr G. Oree	Militant Socialist Movement
4.	Hon Mr A. B. Jahangeer	Militant Socialist Movement
5.	Hon Mr J. R. Dayal	Militant Socialist Movement
6.	Hon Mr S. Fowdar	Muvman Liberater
7.	Hon Ms M. Sewocksingh	Parti Mauricien Social Démocrate
8.	Hon Mr V. V. Baloomoody	Mouvement Militant Mauricien
9.	Hon Mr M.R.C. Uteem	Mouvement Militant Mauricien
10.	Hon Mr D. Ramful	Parti Travailliste
11.	Hon Mr Alan Ganoo	Mouvement Patriotique
12.	His Worship Mr Farhad Dowlut	Mayor of Vacoas-Phoenix
13.	Her Worship Mrs Soolekha Jepaul-Raddhoa	Mayor of Quatre Bornes

4. Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi, in his keynote address at the conference, said that wherever Indians went, they integrated well in that country and made it their home. He also said that Government of India has introduced far – reaching reforms in the past 3 years. Reforms to transform, is the guiding principle for the Government of India. He said that in our relationship with Indian diaspora, our focus has always been on capacity building and resource development.

5. Earlier, Hon’ble Minister of External Affairs of India, Smt. Sushma Swaraj extended a warm welcome to all the participating PIO Parliamentarians in her inaugural address. She also outlined the story of struggle and success of Indian Girmityas in Mauritius.

6. On the occasion of 16^th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the High Commission of India organised an event in Mauritius which was attended by the entire cross section of various socio-cultural and diaspora organizations and friends of India. The event, held at Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture, was attended by about 100 guests. The gathering was addressed by the High Commissioner of India, Shri Abhay Thakur, Chairperson of Aapravasi Ghat Trust Fund, Mr Dharam Yash Deo Dhuny and President of Mauritius Sanatan Dharma Temples Federation, Mr Rajenrah Ramdhean.