10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to be Held in Jaipur

Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago to be Chief Guest 

The 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) will be held from 7-9 January, 2012 in Jaipur. Addressing a press conference here today, Shri Vayalar Ravi, the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs and Civil Aviation announced that the Chief Guest of PBD-2012 will be the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Ms. Kamla Persad Bissessar. The theme of PBD-2012 is “Global Indian-Inclusive Growth”. He further said that Rajasthan will be the partner State of the 10th PBD, which would provide the Diaspora an opportunity to understand the vibrant culture and potential of State. 

Shri Ravi said that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will inaugurate this annual flagship event of the Ministry on January 8, and the President Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil will deliver the valedictory address on January 9 and confer the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Awards. He also informed that two pre-conference seminars on ‘Solar Energy- Investment’ and R&D’ and ‘Social Entrepreneurship-Water’ will also be organized during the event. 

The Minister said that more than 1500 delegates are expected to participate in PBD-2012 from all over the world. He said that Government is making efforts to make PBD more meaningful and interactive event that would address issues and concerns of the overseas Indian community effectively. He also announced that the event would be webcast online and summary of proceedings put out each day. The interactive website would provide an opportunity for the Diaspora to participate in the conference from any corner of the world. On the occasion, he also launched the PBD website- www.pbdindia.org. 

Speaking in the conference, Shri Rajendra Pareek the Minister of Industries, NRI’s, and State Enterprises of Rajasthan said that Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is an efforts to bring Indian Diaspora on one forum, which expresses the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. He also extended all kind of support and cooperation from Rajasthan Government to make the 10th PBD successful. Dr. A. Didar Singh, Secretary, MOIA & Mr Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII were also present on the occasion.

11 Punjabis detained in Kuwait return home

Kapurthala, January 5
Eleven of the 30 Punjabi youths detained by a maintenance company in Kuwait have returned to India. Thanks to the India Embassy in Kuwait which facilitated their return after the matter was taken up by the Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes (PSCSC) with the External Affairs Ministry.

Two of the returned youths, Kulwinder Kumar of Lamma in Jalandhar and Gurmail Singh of Phagwara, said they along with 28 Punjabis had been detained by a company, Arab Centres, for the past nine months. The company forced them to stay in Kuwait even after the expiry of their visa. They could not move out due to the fear of getting arrested, they added. “Ailing Punjabis were even refused medicines. A society of Kerala highlighted our plight on YouTube," they said. Kulwinder also informed about their condition to his sister on the phone.

"My sister contacted chairman of the PSCSC Rajesh Bagha, who took up the matter with the Union External Affairs Ministry,” he said.

‘Immigrate through legitimate means’

Chandigarh, January 5
Dwelling on the agenda of youth empowerment through quality education, skills development and employment, most of overseas participants expressed serious concerns over deterioration in the standard of senior secondary education and post-matriculation dropout rate in Punjab at the Punjabi Parvasi Divas conference here today.

Canada as a partner country in this years' conference was well represented, both among speakers and the audience.

Though Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, NRI Affairs Minister Balbir Singh Bath, Chief Secretary SC Aggarwal and NRI Commissioner Vijay Partap were conspicuous by their absence, overseas Punjabis from Canada, including Ontario Minister Harinder Takhar, Alberta MLA Peter Sandhu and former MP Gurbax Malhi, talked about how Punjabis have scripted a success story in their present country of abode.

The participants endorsed the suggestion made by the secretary-general of the International Punjabi Chamber for Service Industry Gulshan Sharma that immigration overseas should be only through legitimate, decent and dignified means.

Satinder Dhiman, a management professor in North America, through video conferencing, expressed deep concern that the dropout rate of students for post-matriculatiuon education in Punjab had shot up to more than 90 per cent. Without education, he said, no state could come up economically.

Canada's Consul-General in Chandigarh Scot Slessor said what Canada needed most was young skilled people who were comfortable in speaking English.

More than 50 per cent of the total Indian immigrants in Canada come from Punjab and its surrounding areas. Scot Slessor said list of skills in demand in Canada were all prominently displayed on the government websites. Advanced countries did not need many people with higher educational qualifications, including PhDs, but they needed plumbers, drivers, mechanics or people trained in other trades in demand. Other basic requirement was that they should be conversant with English.

Ontario Minister for Government Services said Punjabis made up for their deficiencies in education with "jugads". With their hard work and unprecedented ability to adapt themselves to the new work and living environs, they had made major strides in every area.

Peter Sandhu from Alberta said when he left India more than three decades ago, the standard of high school education was pretty good. But unfortunately, it had deteriorated rapidly. The government needed to focus on reviving education network, besides imparting training in trades that were in demand overseas.

ਵਿਦੇਸ਼ੀ ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਦਾਖਲੇ ਵਾਲੇ ਦੋ ਹੋਰ ਕਾਲਜ ਬੰਦ

5 ਜਨਵਰੀ - ਪੱਛਮੀ ਈਲਿੰਗ ਦੇ ਦੋ ਹੋਰ ਕਾਲਜ ਬੰਦ ਹੋਣ ਦੀਆਂ ਖ਼ਬਰਾਂ ਮਿਲੀਆਂ ਹਨ, ਲੀਲੈਂਡ ਰੋਡ ਈਲਿੰਗ ਦਾ ਬੂਸਟਨ ਕਾਲਜ ਆਫ ਲੰਡਨ ਤੇ ਈਲਿੰਗ ਬਰਾਡਵੇਅ ਸਥਿਤ ਵੈਸਟ ਲੰਡਨ ਸਕੂਲ ਆਫ ਮੈਨੇਜਮੈਂਟ ਐਂਡ ਟੈਕਨਾਲੋਜੀ ਦਾ ਵਿਦੇਸ਼ੀ ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਪੜ੍ਹਾਉਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਲਾਇਸੰਸ ਰੱਦ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਇਸੇ ਖੇਤਰ 'ਚ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਵੀ ਇੱਕ ਕਾਲਜ ਸਤੰਬਰ 2011 'ਚ ਬੰਦ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ।

ਐਰਿਕ ਲੀਚ ਆਫ ਵਿਸਟ ਈਲਿੰਗ ਨੇਬਰਸ ਦਾ ਕਹਿਣਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਕਾਲਜਾਂ ਦਾ ਬੰਦ ਹੋਣਾ ਜਿੱਥੇ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਸਟਾਫ ਲਈ ਬਰਬਾਦੀ ਦਾ ਕਾਰਨ ਬਣੇਗਾ, ਉੱਥੇ ਵਿਦੇਸ਼ੀ ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀਆਂ ਦਾ ਭਵਿੱਖ ਵੀ ਖਤਰੇ 'ਚ ਪੈ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਹੁਣ ਡਿਪੋਰਟ ਕੀਤੇ ਜਾਣ ਦਾ ਖਦਸ਼ਾ ਹੈ। ਯੂ ਕੇ ਬਾਰਡਰ ਏਜੰਸੀ ਦਾ ਕਹਿਣਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਵੈਸਟ ਲੰਡਨ ਸਕੂਲ ਆਫ ਮੈਨੇਜਮੈਂਟ ਦਾ ਲਾਇਸੰਸ ਨਵੰਬਰ 'ਚ ਰੱਦ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਸੀ ਤੇ ਬੂਸਟਨ ਕਾਲਜ ਨੇ ਅਗਸਤ 'ਚ ਸਵੈ ਇੱਛਕ ਤੌਰ 'ਤੇ ਵਾਪਸ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਸੀ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀ ਵੀਜ਼ੇ ਦੀ ਦੁਰਵਰਤੋਂ ਰੋਕਣ ਲਈ ਹੀ ਵੀਜ਼ਾ ਨਿਯਮਾਂ 'ਚ ਤਬਦੀਲੀਆਂ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ ਜਾਂਦੀਆਂ ਹਨ, ਸਿਰਫ ਅੱਵਲ ਦਰਜੇ ਦੀ ਪੜ੍ਹਾਈ ਦੇਣ ਵਾਲਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਹੀ ਅੰਤਰਰਾਸ਼ਟਰੀ ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਪਾਂਸਰ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਲਾਇਸੰਸ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।

Polls may cast a shadow on Parvasi Punjabi Divas

Chandigarh, January 4
The assembly elections in Punjab may take away the sheen from the annual Parvasi Punjabi Divas to be held here tomorrow where major issues for deliberations would be skills development, education and employment.

Interestingly, politics has been put on the hold as focus would be more on those planning to immigrate abroad for either employability, higher education or for investment in western world in general and Canada in particular.

Canada, being the major partner in this event, will be represented among others by Ontario Minister for Government Services Harinder Takhar, Member of Provincial Parliament of Alberta Peter Sandhu and former MP from Ontario Gurbax Malhi. Besides these representatives of Parvasi Punjabis, Canada's Consul-General Scot Slessor will also make two presentations at the daylong conference to showcase his country's potential in education, employment and business.

Though model code of conduct would debar the SAD-BJP combine from making any announcement for redressal of long-pending demands of the overseas Punjabis, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal is expected to formally inaugurate the deliberations that would be later joined by former deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha Charanjit Singh Atwal, Punjab Chief Secretary SC Aggarwal and Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Technical University, Dr Rajneesh Aora.

ਸੁਰਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਘੁੰਮਣ ਅਤੇ ਬਖਸ਼ੀਸ਼ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੋਢੀ ਨੂੰ ਮਹਾਰਾਣੀ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਐਮ. ਬੀ. ਈ. ਐਵਾਰਡ ਦੇਣ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ

2 ਜਨਵਰੀ ૿ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਰੇਡੀਓ ਲੰਡਨ ਦੇ ਮਾਲਕ ਸੁਰਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਘੁੰਮਣ ਅਤੇ ਬਖਸ਼ੀਸ਼ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੋਢੀ ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਵਾਈਸ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦਰਬਾਰ ਗ੍ਰੇਵਜ਼ੈਂਡ ਨੂੰ ਨਵੇਂ ਵਰ੍ਹੇ ਦੇ ਮੌਕੇ ਮਹਾਰਾਣੀ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਐਮ ਬੀ ਈ ਦੇ ਸਨਮਾਨ ਨਾਲ ਸਨਮਾਨਿਤ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਸਨਮਾਨ ਮਹਾਰਾਣੀ ਐਲਜ਼ਿਬਿਥ 2 ਵੱਲੋਂ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ। ਸੁਰਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਘੁੰਮਣ ਨੂੰ ਇਹ ਸਨਮਾਨ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਰੇਡੀਓ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਰਣ ਦੀ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਵਿਚ ਨਿਭਾਏ ਰੋਲ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। ਪਿੰਡ ਘੁੰਮਣਾਂ ਦੇ ਜੰਮਪਲ ਸੁਰਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੂੰ 29 ਸਾਲਾਂ ਦੀ ਉਮਰ ਵਿਚ ਪਹਿਲਾ ਨੌਜਵਾਨ ਮੈਜਿਸਟਰੇਟ ਬਣਨ ਦਾ ਮਾਣ ਵੀ ਹਾਸਿਲ ਹੈ, ਜਦ ਕਿ ਸ: ਬਖਸ਼ੀਸ਼ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੋਢੀ ਨੂੰ ਇਹ ਸਨਮਾਨ ਸਮਾਜ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਨਿਭਾਈਆਂ ਸੇਵਾਵਾਂ ਬਦਲੇ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। 40 ਸਾਲਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਗਰੇਵਜ਼ੈਂਡ ਵਿਖੇ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਸ: ਸੋਢੀ ਨੇ ਜਿੱਥੇ ਨਵੇਂ ਗੁਰੂ ਘਰ ਦੀ ਉਸਾਰੀ ਵਿਚ ਅਹਿਮ ਰੋਲ ਨਿਭਾਇਆ, ਉਥੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਪੋਰਟਸ ਕਲੱਬ, ਏਸ਼ੀਅਨ ਵੈਲਫੇਅਰ ਸੁਸਾਇਟੀ, ਸਿੱਖ ਹੈਰੀਟੇਜ਼ ਟਰਾਇਲ ਸੰਸਥਾਵਾਂ ਲਈ ਸੇਵਾਵਾਂ ਦੇਣ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ-ਨਾਲ ਗ੍ਰੇਵਜ਼ੈਂਡ ਦੀ ਕੌਂਸਲ ਵਿਚ ਵੱਖ-ਵੱਖ ਭਾਈਚਾਰਿਆਂ ਵਿਚ ਆਪਸੀ ਸਾਂਝ ਵਧਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਵੀ ਸਨਮਾਨ ਹਾਸਿਲ ਕਰ ਚੁੱਕੇ ਹਨ।

Russian’s arrest snowballs into diplomatic row

Chandigarh, January 4
Russian photojournalist Olga Timoshik's arrest by the Punjab Police has snowballed into a diplomatic row. Moscow has for the third time lodged a protest over her arrest "without any evidence."
In fact, the Embassy of Russian Federation has sent its third note of protest on her arrest to the Ministry of External Affairs.
In a communication dated December 28 last, the Embassy has drawn once again the ministry's attention to the criminal case against Timoshik, a professional photographer and journalist, who helped organise numerous exhibitions on Indian culture.
The letter says: "The Embassy regrets to point out that more than a year-and- half after her arrest, there still has not been even a single hearing of the merits of her case". It also says: "This inordinate delay caused constant mental stress followed by severe health deterioration of Timoshik. At present, she is completely exhausted physically and mentally suffering from constant mental anguish and deep depression and asthmatic attacks…."
"The Embassy regrets to reiterate that the failure of the police to provide evidence of Timoshik's criminal activities and continuous hoaxing discrediting honour, dignity and reputation of Timoshik are detrimental to India's image as a friendly nation in the eyes of the Russian public at large".
Referring to Olga's petition filed by counsel SS Behl before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the letter says the Embassy requests the ministry to bend every effort through the concerned authorities to ensure fast response from the prosecution side by the next date of hearing.
Olga was arrested by the police and allegedly subjected to third degree interrogation for 10 days during her police remand. The cops also allegedly launched a ‘character assassination campaign’ in newspapers and ‘publicised’ the ‘confidential details of her private life’.
The startling claims made by the Russian were made in the petition before Justice Alok Singh for the quashing of the FIR registered under the provisions of the Foreigners Act on May 25 last year at Nangal police station in Ropar.

Appointment of info commissioners

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the Punjab Secretary, Department of Information and Technology, to be present on Monday to answer the queries on procedure adopted for appointment of two State Information Commissioners — Chander Parkash and Bidhi Chand. The directions came on a PIL filed by advocate HC Arora.