Parallel Session 1: Indians in the Gulf:
- Welfare Schemes like Pravasi Bhima Yojana was spelt out
- More importance to be given to issues of gulf overseas Indians
Parallel Session 2: Gender Issues of the Diaspora:
- An information booklet can be brought out to understand the issues of harassment of and cruelty to women.
- A Gender cell in the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs to deal with gender issues of NRI should be set up
- As many of these areas fall in the domain of private international law rather than public national law the issue should be taken up legally with the government and the suggestions already made should be concretized.
- There should be continued interaction and a constant dialogue on these issues with the NRI women and the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, NCW, WPC, and related women groups.
- The Ministry is planning a national consultation on these issues in the month of February 2006.
Parallel Session 3 - Diaspora Youth:
- Interest has been shown by Poonam Ahluwalia to forge link with MOIA and working for increase employment opportunities for the youth especially in rural areas.
- Urge to build an interactive web portal for diaspora and Indian youth to engage and exchange ideas.
- MOIA partnership with NYKS for engaging the diaspora youth. Partnerhsip can be made to engage with diaspora youth in the field of culture and journalism etc.
- Interest has been shown among the participants to enhance partnership between the diaspora and Indian youth.
Parallel Session 4—Opportunities in Education:
- Private sector to be allowed to played a larger role in Research & Development in education
- Creation of databank of Diaspora academicians both in service and retired persons
- To form a task group for identifying priority areas in education and Diaspora representation to be also there in the same
- Private sector be allowed to play a direct role in institution building
- Government should increase outlays for higher education in addition to elementary education.
- Encouraging education and research in traditional areas of learning in India viz Yoga, Ayurveda, etc.
Parallel Session 5- Assisted Living
Generated discussion on need for ‘assisted living’ concept which was well received by the audience. The audience asked for longer and sustainable discussion on the concept to realize it in reality.
Parallel Session 6- Commemorating the Diaspora
- Need for preservation of documents in Diaspora countries
- Tracing of Roots will be replicated in other districts and states.
- MOIA will support commemorative projects Overseas such as the Aapravasi Ghat project in Mauritius
Panel Discussion I -Diaspora and Political Discourse
A network of Parliamentarians and Ministries of Indian origin belonging to different countries to be established for a regular exchange of views and experiences.
Panel Discussion II—Reporting on the Diaspora
- Need for a Global Diaspora Media channel on the lines of BBC and CNN was emphasized.
- Setting up of a Global Organization of Journalists from Indian Origin
Panel Discussion III - Communal Harmony and Secularism
- Need for syllabus for younger generation in Diaspora and home countries to understand the India’s plurality.
- Need for systematic approach to understand the Indian culture especially for diaspora youth
Round Table 1: India—The Knowledge powerhouse
- Generated shift in the mindset of Indians to move away from IT only to other knowledge industries such as Genetics and Agriculture. The key is a transition from back office operations to front office operations.
- Indian Diaspora may help reverse the brain drain and provide guidance in managerial and marketing sectors.
- Key partners are entrepreneurs; investors who may lend their expertise in different sectors. Research and Consulting were two strategic areas in which the Academia can play a crucial role
It highlighted the importance of triangular approach that involved policy makers, entrepreneurs and investors.
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