Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Odisha, Day 3: All you need to know about the events today

President Droupadi Murmu will confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards during the valedictory session of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention in Bhubaneswar on Friday. 

A highlight of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention is the presentation of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA). As many as 27 individuals and organisations will be honoured this year, from countries like the US, Fiji, Guyana, Mauritius, Moldova, Myanmar, Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Who Are The Awardees, Why Are They Honoured?

The Ministry of External Affairs announced the names of the awardees for this year on January 3. The awardees include Baroness Usha Kumari Prashar from the UK (in the field of politics), Dr Sharmila Ford from the US for community service, and Dr Syed Anwar Khursheed from Saudi Arabia (in the field of Medical Science).

This prestigious honour is conferred upon Non-Resident Indians, Persons of Indian Origin, or organisations established and run by them. The PBSA recognises outstanding achievements in various fields and celebrates the accomplishments and commitments of NRIs and PIOs in sectors such as education, science and innovation, trade and industry, arts and culture, social work, public service, and philanthropy.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Odisha

The President will also present her closing remarks at the convention today which began on January 8. She will grace the occasion for more than five hours and subsequently return to New Delhi this afternoon.

Earlier in the day, a session on ‘Nari Shakti’ was held. It will be followed by a special discussion on how to present Indian culture on the world stage.

Earlier, President Murmu arrived in Bhubaneswar on Thursday and was welcomed by Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and other BJP party leaders at Bhubaneswar Airport.

A Glimpse of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Odisha:

The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated on January 9 to mark Mahatma Gandhi’s return from South Africa to India in 1915.

The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention commenced at Bhubaneswar on Wednesday with the inauguration of Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas by Chief Minister Mohan Majhi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

The delegates have been participating in various plenary sessions on various issues during the three-day convention.

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

PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention in Odisha

Around 5,000 delegates from different corners of the world have been attending the grand convention. The NRIs from different countries have expressed their pleasure over Odisha’s art, literature, culture, food and hospitality. They have also been captivated after visiting various tourist places in the State.

What NRIs Say on Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Odisha?

“I have come to attend the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Odisha from Doha. It’s an international event. We presented Odisha on the world map by celebrating the festival here. As Odia people, the onus is on us to boost Make in Odisha on the world map. It will help in the tourist inflow to Odisha and the economic enrichment of the State,” said an NRI.

“We are moved by the hospitality and culture of Odisha. We were captivated to see Konark temple and Sri Jagannath temple in Puri Odisha. We also enjoyed Odisha food a lot. Odisha has great potential and Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will go a long way in presenting the specialities of Odisha on the world map,” said another NRI.