Diaspora youth gets a taste of India

NEW DELHI - Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) Vayalar Ravi Tuesday met 28 young People of Indian Origin (PIO), including 22 women from across the world, on a government-sponsored trip to know and understand their native country.

The 15th Know India Programme (KIP) is a fully funded programme of the ministry for youth of Indian origin within the age group of 18 to 26. The participants must either be a graduate or pursuing a graduate programme.

The content of this three-week programme include presentations on the country, political process, developments in various sectors, visiting a college/university/institute and interacting with faculty and students, presentation on industrial development and visits to some industries and visiting a village.

Ravi welcomed the participants to share their thoughts and experiences during the programme.

“This is an India with an emerging economy and as youths of Indian origin, this is an opportunity to understand India and its cultural diversities,” Ravi said addressing the participants.

Shirdika Pillai, a 23-year-old from Durban in South Africa, said she was in awe of the natural beauty and culture of people in Assam and Meghalaya where they were taken on a tour.

Overseas Indian Affairs Secretary Didar Singh said: “I see the Indian diaspora as the future ambassadors and bridges between India and the world.”

“I am very pleased with the success of the initiative, which has completed the 15th programme successfully. This is a major initiative by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. This is a way of taking India to the world,” Ravi added.