New Delhi, January 1, 2004
IANS

Efforts are being made to tap the expertise of overseas Indians in disaster management as the country holds its annual event to connect with its disapora in Mumbai January 7-9 in the backdrop of the tsunami calamity.

"We will add a new dimension to this Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in the light of the tsunami disaster," said Amit Mitra, secretary general of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and co-hosts of the event.

"Scientists from NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) in the US, as also experts in fields like meteorology from Britain and Canada - countries with excellent disaster management systems - are attending the event," he said.

"The effort will be on connecting with them to understand how India can gain from their expertise. We are planning to use some sectoral sessions like those on science and technology for this purpose," Mitra told the agencies.

FICCI officials said in view of the tsunami disaster, some entertainment and cultural events during the event were being reoriented. "Events like Bollywood night will either become a charity event or scaled down," Mitra said.

FICCI officials said another session on "Voluntary Sector and Development" was originally planned to focus on water and income generation in rural India, but may now include discussion on philanthropy, rehabilitation and relief measures.

"People of Indian origin are very giving. During the Gujarat earthquake, FICCI raised $22 million from non-resident Indians and persons of Indian origin to build 5,000 houses with non-government organisations," Mitra said. This year, the largest delegation is expected from US and Malaysia, even as over 500 participants from some 45 countries have confirmed their attendance.

The delegates include members of the Indian diaspora from places such as Guadeloupe, Reunion Islands, Zambia, Uzbekistan and the Seychelles, according to officials in the ministry of overseas Indian affairs, the main organisers.

President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam will honour some prominent members of the diaspora on the last day of the event, to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Jagdish Tytler said Jan 9 has been chosen as the day to present the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award to coincide with the day Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa after staying there for years.

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and Commerce Minister Kamal Nath are among those expected to address the gathering. Surinamese Vice President Jules Rattankoemar Ajodhia is the chief guest.

The government proposed to hold the fourth convention in 2006 in Bangalore.