The republic of India observes Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrated for NRIs in Canberra, Australia on 09th January. The motto of celebrating Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is to celebrate the contribution of the NRIs in Canberra, Australia community towards the development of the nation. On 09th January 1915, the father of India, Mahatma Gandhi, returned from South Africa to Mumbai; that’s why Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was observed on 09thJanuary. The event is sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs of the Indian Government, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce (FICC), the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), and the Ministry of development of the North Eastern region. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is held from 7th to 9th January every other year in a selected state of India. At the events, a forum on issues that concerns the Indian diaspora is organized, and people are awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards. The concept of an overseas citizen of India/NRIs in Canberra, Australia was officially launched during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention at Hyderabad on 09th January 2006.
In the year 2014 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was celebrated for NRIs in New Delhi and attended by 1500 delegates from 51 countries. In2014, the Pravasi Bharatiya awards were awarded by President Pranab Mukherjee to the people of the NRIs in Canberra, Australia community who are creating a significant impact onthe world. The 11thPravasi Bharatiya Divas was celebrated in Kochi from 7thto 9th January 2013. In the 11thPravasi Bharatiya Divas, the Indo-Canada C
hamber of Commerce was the organizing partner of the event. The guest of honor of the inauguration ceremony was the President of Mauritius Rajkeshwur Purryag, and Canadian Minister Jason Kenny was the first individual of non-Indianheritage who addressed the gathering. The 16thPravasi Bharatiya Divas was held on 21stto 23rd January 2019 in the city of Varanasi.
History of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas as an NRIs in Canberra, Australia
Under the chairmanship of L.M. Singhvi, the Government of India set up a high-level committee on the Indian diaspora. The committee under L.M. Singhvi recommended celebrating Pravasi Bharatiya Divas fro NRIs in Canberra, Australia. On 08th January 2002, the existing Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee received the committee report at a public function at the Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. Immediately after receiving the report, the Prime Minister announced Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on 09th January 2002. 09th January was chosen as the date to mark the return of the father of India, Mahatma Gandhi, from South Africa to India in 1915.
Mahatma Gandhi was the greatest Pravasi who returned from South Africa to India on 09th January 1915 and led India’s freedom struggle and changed the life of the Indian people forever. In 2003 it came into effect, but in 2015 it was revised and decided to be celebrated once every two years. After revising, the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas became a theme-based conference set up annually during the interim period. The 16thPravasi Bharatiya Divas convention was held virtually in New Delhi, and the chosen theme for the event was ‘Contributing to Aatmnirbhar Bharat.’
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was marked by special programs to recognize the contributions of Non-Resident Indians (NRI) and People of Indian Origin (PIO) to celebrate exceptional contributions in their chosen fields. It was a forum to discuss different issues and concerns of the people of the Indian diaspora. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas has been organized every year since the year 2003. The event was sponsored by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and the Confederation of Indian industry.
NRIs in Australia
Australia is the world’s smallest continent and one of the world’s biggest countries, located in the Southern Hemisphere between the Pacific and Indian seas. Canberra, Australia’s capital, is situated between the bigger and more important economic and cultural cities of Sydney and Melbourne in the southeast.
Around 2,500 years ago, the first Torres Strait Islanders, who were ethnically and culturally separate from Aboriginal people, came from what is now Papua New Guinea and lived on the Torres Strait islands and the Cape York Peninsula, which form the northern extremity of the Australian mainland.
Capital:- Canberra
Population:- 25,801,000(2022 Est.)
Total Area :- 7,688,126(Sq Km)
Monetary Unit:- Australian dollar ($A)
Currency Exchange Rate:- 1 Rs = 0.019 Australian Dollar
Indian Australians, often known as Indo-Australians, are Australians of Indian ancestry. This covers both Australian-born individuals and those who were born in India or elsewhere in the Indian diaspora. Indians in Australia have the youngest average age (34 years) and are the fastest-growing ethnic group in terms of both absolute numbers and percentages. [4] With 619,164 people reporting Indian ancestry in the 2016 census and 721,050 people born in India, Indian Australians are one of the largest communities within the Indian diaspora.
The Australian continent stretches over 2,500 miles (4,000 km) from west to east, and almost 2,000 miles from Cape York Peninsula in the northeast to Wilsons Promontory in the southeast (3,200 km). To the south, Australian jurisdiction stretches 310 miles (500 kilometres) to the southernmost point of Tasmania, while to the north, it reaches the southernmost point of Papua New Guinea.
Land of Australia
Except for Antarctica, Australia is the flattest and driest continent on the planet. Its enormous plains, sometimes the colour of dried blood, more frequently tawny like a lion’s hide, may appear to be one giant desert when viewed from the air. For enormous spans of time, one may fly from Darwin in the north or Perth in the west to Sydney without seeing a town or anything other than the most dispersed and minute evidence of human settlement.
A significant portion of the centre depression and western plateau is desert. However, outward looks might be deceiving. The red and black dirt plains of Queensland and New South Wales have long sustained the world’s largest wool industry, as well as some of the most productive sheep in the world.
Economy of Australia
Australia has long had an image as a rich, underpopulated country prone to natural calamities, with an economy mainly reliant on agriculture (“riding on the backs of sheep”) and foreign investment. During the first century of European colonisation, when wool exports were king, this statement was quite accurate. Wheat, cattle, lamb, dairy products, and a variety of irrigated crops all became significant, but farming and grazing remained the most important. The rise of industry and services, as well as the extraordinary breakthroughs in resource exploitation following World War II, shattered this vision.
Cultural life
Australia’s isolation as an island continent has had a significant impact on its culture, both positively and negatively. Over a period of at least 40,000 years, the Aboriginal peoples evolved their adaptation to the environment, during which time they had limited interaction with the outside world. In 1788, Britain established New South Wales as a prison colony, mainly due to the continent’s remoteness. Because of Australia’s convict history, feelings of exile and isolation influenced European perceptions of the landscape.
Indigenous Australians may have mingled with individuals of Indian descent some 4,200 years ago, according to a study of Indigenous Australian DNA. According to the same study, flint tools and Indian dogs may have been imported from India around this period. According to a 2012 research, there is also evidence of a significant genetic movement from India to northern Australia around 4,000 years ago, around the same time when advances in tool technology and food processing occur in the Australian archaeological record, implying that the two may be linked.
What is Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award for an NRIs in Canberra, Australia?
The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award for NRIs in Canberra, Australia is one of the highest honors conferred to a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) and Person of Indian Origin (PIO) or any organization or institution established or run by a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) or Person of Indian Origin (PIO). The award is awarded to the people who have made a significant contribution to understanding India in foreign countries and who supported India’s cause and concerns in a tangible way.
In the year 2021, the Government of India celebrated 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. The event was organized virtually in the wake of increasing COVID-19 cases nationwide. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated to honor the achievements of Non-Resident Indians around the world and is also known as Non-Resident Indian Day. It is celebrated to strengthen the engagement of the NRIs in Canberra, Australia community with the Indian Government and reconnect them with their roots and heritage.
Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra for NRIs in Canberra, Australia
The committee headed by Shri L.M. Singhvi also recommended that the government should renew and strengthen the linkages of the NRIs in Canberra, Australia communities to the place of their origin and with each other. The committee recommended setting up a focal point for networking between India and these NRIs in Canberra, Australia communities. The place needs to be suitable, and it should be a place that could commemorate the trials, regulations, evolution, and achievements of the Indian diaspora. In the second Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee considered the recommendation and announced that the government would set up Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra in New Delhi.
On 09th January 2011, the foundation stone of Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra was laid by the existing Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, and finally, in April 2013, the construction of the Kendra was started. Recent Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra on 02nd October on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti in New Delhi. The Kendra is expected to develop into a hub of activities for sustainable, symbiotic, and mutually rewarding economic, social, and cultural engagement between India, the NRIs in Canberra, Australia community, and its diaspora. Over time the government is expected to organize activities, events, seminars, and workshops about the Indian diaspora.
The museum constructed inside the Kendra will depict the history of migration of the NRIs in Canberra, Australia community and their experience and contributions to foreign countries. In the Kendra state-of-the-art auditorium, the conferences and workshops with NRIs in Canberra, Australia will be organized on a regular basis. The Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra was renamed Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in order to tribute to the late leader.
Significance of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas for NRIs in Canberra, Australia
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is a significant event as the NRIs in Canberra, Australia community gets a platform to engage with the Indian Government and the native people of the country. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas has been very successful and helpful in networking among the NRIs in Canberra, Australia community residing in various parts of the world. The event enables the NRIs in Canberra, Australia community to share their experience and contributions in various fields. It is a platform that allows them to connect with their heritage, roots, and history. It is in conjunction with the return of Mahatma Gandhi, a person who inspired a lot of people all around the globe and who taught the world that you don’t need arms and weapons to bring revolution. The return of Gandhi on 09th January was recognized as an honor, and that’s why the day has great significance. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas have significantly contributed to a better understanding of India abroad.
Initiatives that are taken by the Government of India for NRIs in Canberra, Australia
Following are the initiatives that the Indian Government takes for the NRIs in Canberra, Australia Community: –
Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PKVY) for NRIs in Canberra, Australia
The government has launched Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PKVY) to institutionalize the skill development of immigrant Indian workers residing in foreign countries. The Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana holistically prepares the candidates to confidently take up challenging assignments in various foreign countries and meets all the transnational skill requirements. This program is of great help to blue-collar workers who will get an opportunity to acquire professional skills and will be able to communicate in foreign languages. Besides this, they will also get skills in particular trades. The Ministry of External Affairs started the Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana skill development initiative. The Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Skill Development in Entrepreneurship helped design the memorandum of understanding for implementing the Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana. The scheme’s implementation will be done by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) with its training partners in consultation.
Know India Program (KIP) for NRIs in Canberra, Australia
The government organizes the Know India Program (KIP) to familiarise the Indian-origin youth residing outside India with their Indian routes and contemporary India. The Ministry of External Affairs launches the Know India Program (KIP). It is a three-week orientation program for the diaspora youth. The program is conducted with a motive to promote awareness of the different facets of life in India and the progress that the country has made in various fields like science and technology, education, economy, industry, etc. It is a unique forum for students and young professionals of Indian origins. Through this program, they can visit India, share their views, expectations, and experiences, and develop close bonds with contemporary India. Under the Know India Program, the government has organized the Pravasi Teerth Darshan Yojana (PTDY), an initiative of the Indian government that provides the elder generation people of Indian origin with a chance to reconnect with their roots.
Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty (VAJRA) for NRIs in Canberra, Australia
The Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty (VAJRA) scheme was launched to formalize a rotation program where the top Non-Resident Indian scientists, doctors, managers, engineers, and professionals will serve Indian public sector organizations for a short period and will lend their expertise to those organizations. The Visiting Advanced Joint Research faculty is a program exclusively dedicated to academicians and overseas scientists that emphasize Non-Resident Indians and Persons of Indian Origin to work as visiting faculty in Indian public-funded academic institutions for a short period of time. The motto of the scheme is to recognize the value of collaborative research and draw different perspectives to solve the shared problem. The scheme recognizes collaborative research as a crucial element for information sharing between researchers and updating and acquiring knowledge in skills. It welcomes overseas scientists to take up new challenging research problems in the Indian setting.
Scholarship Program for Diaspora Children (SPDC) for NRIs in Canberra, Australia
The Scholarship Program for Diaspora Children (SPDC) provides 100 scholarships annually to people of Indian Origin and Non-Resident Indian students for various undergraduate courses. The Scholarship Program for Diaspora Children (SPDC) was introduced in 2006-07. The program’s motto was to make higher education in Indian universities in different fields accessible to the people of Indian Origin and Non-Resident Indians. It promotes India as a center for higher studies. Under the scheme, the students of Indian origin are awarded different types of scholarship, which includes payment of tuition fees, admission fees, hostel charges, and other expenses. Besides food charges, the government pays all the charges mentioned above for undergraduate courses in engineering, humanity, technology, arts, management, journalism, commerce, liberals, agriculture, animal husbandry, and other courses.
E-Migrate for NRIs in Canberra, Australia
The Indian government launched the E-migrate system to ensure the welfare and check on the exploitation met by emigrants. It is a type of foreign employee database where the government stores all the data of foreign employees. The e-migrate system was created to regulate overseas employment specifically for less educated blue-collar workers. E-migrate is an integrated program of Passport Seva Projects (PSP), the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Bureau of Immigration of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Every time an immigrant arrives at the airport or cross-checks post to proceed abroad, the passport details of the immigrant are validated online by the officers. The people who already receive the immigration clearance are allowed to travel, and the rest are restricted. It is amazing to ensure the protection against the exploitation of Indian workers. This system functions according to the control of protected general of immigrants.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Objectives for NRIs in Canberra, Australia
Following are the objectives of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas for NRIs in Canberra, Australia: –
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated with the motto to connect with the for NRIs in Canberra, Australia Community, including Non-Resident Indians (NRI) and People of Indian Origin (PIO).
It is celebrated for creating an for NRIs in Canberra, Australia network and connecting with the younger generations.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas provides an open platform to Non-Resident Indians where they can express their vision, concerns, and perceptions about India.
It is a platform to resolve the issues that are faced by the for NRIs in Canberra, Australia community.
And lastly, the objective of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is to honor the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) and Person of Indian Origin (PIO) for making a profound and significant contribution to India’s nation-building exercise NRIs in Canberra, Australia.
Sum up
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was initiated on 09th January 2003 by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The 09th January has a great significance in history as Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest Pravasi came to India from South Africa on 09th January 1915. In 2015 the format of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was revised, and now it holds theme-based conferences and is celebrated once in every two years. The flagship event of the ministry of external affairs has successfully organized the 16thPravasi Bharatiya Divas since 2003.