The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards and addressed the closing session of the 12th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention today (January 9, 2014) at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.

Addressing the gathering, the President reiterated that overseas Indians could play an important role in the growth and development of India. They had within them the experience, expertise and knowledge gained as a result of their life abroad, which could be of immense benefit to India. Overseas Indians could play an extremely important role in helping the education institutions of India, most of which are their Alma Maters, rise to world class status. They could be catalysts in transforming Indian higher education institutions and instilling in them a culture of excellence as well as the spirit of innovation. He called upon all stakeholders to take up this task in a single minded manner.

The President expressed the hope that the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2014 will seed many initiatives for deepening mutually beneficial engagement. He stated that the Government on its part will continue to actively engage with the overseas Indian community and explore all possible avenues to make them valued partners in the building of a strong and prosperous India.