President Murmu to Present Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards Today

New Delhi, Jan 10 (NationPress) President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to present the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards at the concluding session of the PBD Convention taking place in Odisha.

The President will deliver her closing remarks at this convention, which commenced on January 8.

She arrived in Bhubaneswar on Thursday, where she received a warm welcome from Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and other leaders from the BJP at the Bhubaneswar Airport.

A key feature of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) convention is the awarding of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA). This year, 27 individuals and organizations will be recognized from various countries including the US, Fiji, Guyana, Mauritius, Moldova, Myanmar, Russia, and Saudi Arabia.

The Ministry of External Affairs revealed the list of this year's awardees on January 3. The distinguished recipients include Baroness Usha Kumari Prashar from the UK in the field of politics, Dr. Sharmila Ford from the US for her community service, and Dr. Syed Anwar Khursheed from Saudi Arabia in the area of Medical Science.

This esteemed accolade is awarded to Non-Resident Indians, Persons of Indian Origin, or organizations established and operated by them. The PBSA honors exceptional contributions across diverse fields and celebrates the achievements and dedication of NRIs and PIOs in sectors such as education, science and innovation, trade and industry, arts and culture, social work, public service, and philanthropy.

The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is commemorated on January 9 to honor Mahatma Gandhi's return to India from South Africa in 1915.

The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention kicked off in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar inaugurating the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.

Delegates have been engaging in various plenary sessions addressing multiple topics during the three-day convention.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially inaugurated the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.

Approximately 5,000 delegates from across the globe are participating in this grand event.

PM Modi also inaugurated four exhibitions at the venue, including 'Vishwaroop Ram', which showcases the legacy of the Ramayana worldwide, 'Diaspora's Contribution to Technology', 'Bharat Bharatiya: Swadesh Pardes' highlighting migration from Gujarat to Oman, and an Exhibition on Heritage and Culture of Odisha that emphasizes Odisha’s rich history and culture.

The Prime Minister remotely launched the inaugural journey of the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special tourist train designed for the Indian diaspora, which will explore various culturally, historically, and religiously significant destinations across India over three weeks.

During his address at the opening session, PM Modi called for the diaspora's involvement in transforming India into a developed nation by 2047.

In a message directed at the global community, PM Modi emphasized that the future lies not in 'yuddha' (war) but in Buddha (symbolizing peace).