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GOPIO NEWS

SPECIAL BULLETIN

January 7, 2019

A Publication of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO)
Issue: XVII-1January 7, 2019
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In This Issue
GOPIO ANNOUNCES DETAILED PROGRAM FOR ITS CONVENTION IN VARANASI
MEA AND UP GOVT. TO HOST PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS 2019
REGISTER FOR PBD 2019 UNDER THE CATEGORY OF GOPIO WITH SPECIAL DISCOUNTS
GOPIO LIFE MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER FORMATION
EDITORIAL BOARD
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GOPIO is a community supported non-profit organization taking up issues of the Indian Diaspora and attempting to unifying the community in its common causes. Support GOPIO by becoming a Life Member or chapter member. Once can become Life Member online by visiting http://www.gopio.net/online_membership.html.
GOPIO ANNOUNCES DETAILED PROGRAM FOR ITS CONVENTION IN VARANASI ON JAN. 19TH to 21ST BEING HELD PRIOR TO PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS 
 
GOPIO Convention in Varanasi - Varanasi Image
After holding conventions in Bahrain, Bengaluru, New York, London, Paris, Zurich, Trinidad, South Africa, New Jersey, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai, GOPIO International is holding its 2019 Annual Convention in Varanasi on January 19th to 21st.  This event is being held in conjunction with the 15th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) Convention which starts on January 21st and concludes on 23rd, 2019. This conference in Holy City will start with an inauguration on January 19th evening, a full day conference on Jan. 20th and end up with a Valedictory Session & Finale Awards Banquet on Jan. 20th evening at the Taj Gateway Hotel, Varanasi. Conference sessions will continue on Jan. 21st from morning to afternoon.


Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated once in two years to strengthen the engagement of the overseas Indian community with the Government, reconnect them with their roots and celebrate their achievements and contributions. 

It will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22nd. The President of India Ram Nath Kovind will deliver the valedictory address on January 23rd and also confer the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Awards. The pre-conference seminars will also be organized on January 21st followed by plenary and panel sessions beginning on January 22nd. Speaking at the launch of the official website for the event, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said that in addition to attending the three-day PBD in Varanasi, the participants will also be taken to Allahabad where the Kumbh Mela will be going on, and then brought to New Delhi for the Republic Day celebrations.

PBD Efforts Inauguration and Kumbh Mela in Allahabad
Photo left: PBD Varanasi organization effort was inaugurated last year by Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi; Photo right: Participants at an earlier Kumbha Mela
******

GOPIO ANNUAL CONVETION VARANASI
 
Jan. 19th to 21st, 2019  
 
Conference Venue -   Taj Gateway Hotel , Varanasi, UP
 
 
PROGRAM DETAILS
Saturday, January 19th, 2019
 
1.00 pm - 3.00 pm                 GOPIO Executive Council Meeting
                                                     (Not Open to General Public)
Chaired by GOPIO President Sunny Kulathakal
           Remarks form International Chairman - Dr. Thomas Abraham
            President's Annual Report - Sunny Kulathakal
Secretary's Report - Dr. Rajeev Mehta
            Treasurer's Report - Kewal Kanda
           Report on Councils - Exec. VP Ishwar Ramlutchman
            Report on Chapters - Vice President Ram Gadhavi
            Global Ambassador's Report - Issac John
            GOPIO Foundation Chair's Report - Inder Singh
GICC Chair's Report - Niraj Baxi
Chapter Review Committee Chair's Report - Dinesh Mittal

3.00-pm - 5.00 pm  Reports from GOPIO International Coordinator and GOPIO Council Chairs
(Open to General Public)
i. Oceania and the Pacific              - Jagdish Lodhia (Australia)
ii. North America                              - Harbachan Singh (USA)
iii. Europe                                          - Mehen Poinoosawmy (France)
iv. Africa                                             - Rita Abraham (South Africa)
v. Middle East                                   - Johny Kuruvilla (UAE)
vi. South Asia                                    - Kurian Abraham (India)
vi Central/South America               - Dr. Asha Samant (USA)
ix. East and South/North East Asia - Lal Motwani (USA)
 

Reports from GOPIO Councils       
 
ACADEMIC COUNCIL
NAME
Chairperson
DR. NEERJA GUPTA
CULTURAL COUNCIL
 
Chairperson
RAJINDRE TEWARI
Co- Chairperson
DR. VINOD DANIEL
HEALTH & WELLNESS COUNCIL
 
Chairperson
DR. TUSHAR PATEL
Co- Chairperson
DR. SAI GIRDHAR
Co- Chairperson
APARNA HANDE
Co- Chairperson
DR. PRADIP KUMAR SEWOKE
Co-Chairperson
RANI KUUSTO
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
 
Chairperson
UMESH CHANDRA
Co- Chairperson
MICHELLE MICHAEL
MEDIA COUNCIL
 
Chairperson
NAMI KAUR
Co - Chairperson
MARLAN PADAYACHEE
Co - Chairperson
MINI GULERIA
Co- Chairperson
JEAN REGIS RAMASAMY
Co- Chairperson
BALVINDER RUBY
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL
 
Chairperson
DR. PRASAD YARLAGGADA
Co - Chairperson
SURESH REDDY
SENIOR'S COUNCIL
 
Chairperson
SUDHA ACHARYA
Co-Chairperson
DR. INDRANI RAMPERSAD
Co-Chairperson
SUMAN KAPOOR
WOMEN'S COUNCIL
 
Chairperson
MOLLY BANERJEI
Co - Chairperson
KRITILATA RAM
YOUTH COUNCIL
 
Chairperson
NISHA DHINGRA
o - Chairperson
SHWETHA SUREDIN
Co - Chairperson
HEMAL DHAVALIKAR
Co - Chairperson
LEENA DOOLEE
 
6.00 pm - Convention Inauguration
 
Book Release of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela
 
7.45 pm - Entertainment             9.00 pm ------------Dinner
 
Sunday, Jan. 20th
 
9.30 am - 1.00 pm - GENERAL BODY MEETING
                                      
Chaired by GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham
President's Annual Report - Sunny Kulathakal
Secretary's Report on GOPIO Activities for 2018 - Dr. Rajeev Mehta
Financial Report from the Treasurer - Kewal Kanda
GOPIO Bylaw Amendments - Harry Walia, Dr. Thomas Abraham and Harbachan Singh
Endorsement /Election of GOPIO International Chairman
                                  
1.00 pm- 2.00 pm............................................. Lunch
 
CONFERENCE SESSIONS Jan.20th
2 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.
Theme: 
STRENGTHENING Global Connections of Diaspora '
India 2030 An Economic Powerhouse'

           
           Dr. Asha Samant, Conference Chair, GOPIO Annual Convention, Varanasi
 
Plenary Session 1
2.00 - 3.00 pm
 
Topic; Strengthening India's Relations with Global Community Through Indian Diaspora 
 
Session Chair: Dr. Thomas Abraham Chairman, GOPIO International, Stamford, CT, USA
 
Keynote Address:     Aumsensingh (Omie) Singh, Member of Parliament, Cape Town, South Africa
 
Speakers/Panelists:  Purnima Voria, Chair, National India USA Chamber of Commerce, Denver, USA
Dr. Markandey Rai, Chancellor, GTAMSU, Senior Advisor UN Habitat Delhi
Nirmal Sinha, GOPIO Founding Member and FIA Columbus, Ohio and Recipient Civil  Rights Hall of Fame, State of Ohio  
                                                                                                                                 
Resource Person: Pooja Thomre, Board Member, National Federation of Indian American Asso.
 
 
Plenary Session 2
3.00-4.00 pm

Topic; Opportunities, Development, Business and investment in India and UP
 
Session Chair - Harbachan Singh, GOPIO Intl. Coordinator for North America, New York, USA
 
Keynote Address: Shri Raj K. Purohit, Minister, State of Maharashtra, Mumbai
 
Speakers/Panelists:  Loganathan Naidoo, Speaker Municipality of Durban, South Africa
                                    Manohar Jetley, MLC, Lucknow, UP, India                             
                                    Chandran Pillai, Managing Director, Bit technology Singapore
                                    Parsram Punj, Parsram Foods Pty Ltd, Queensland, Australia
 
 Resource Person: Radha Krishnan, GOPIO Life Member, Detroit, USA
 
4.00 - 4.15 p.m. TEA   BREAK
 
Plennary Session 3
4.15-5.15 pm
Topic; INDIAN ACADEMIC CONCLAVE ON INDIAN DIASPORA
 
Session Chair and Moderator:Dr. Neerja Arun Gupta, Chair, Director cum Coordinator, Study
Abroad Program and Diaspora Studies, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad & Chair, Academic Council of GOPIO Intl.
 
Keynote Address: Shri Satyapal Singh, Minister of State Hum an Resource
Development (Higher Education) and Minister of State in the Ministry of
Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation.
 
Speakers/Panelists:Prof. N. K.Taneja, Vice Chancellor, Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut
Professor Dasarath Chetty, CEO DC Communications, Durban, South Africa                                                  
Prof. Manoj Dixit, Vice Chancellor, Dr. RML Avadh University, Ayodhya
 
Closing Remarks:     Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Sharma, Hon. Sec. IPSA
 
Valedictory Session, Presentation of Community Service Awards, Entertainment and Dinner
6.00 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.

*******
Monday, Jan. 21st
9.30 am -12.30 pm

Plenary Session - 4 
9.30-10.30 am              
 
Session Chair - Mehen Poinoosawmy, GOPIO Intl. Coordinator for Europe, Paris, France
 
Speakers/Panelists:Jean Regis Ramsamy, Co-Chair, Media Council, Reunion Island,
                       Vikas Talwar, President of GOPIO France
                                   Charlotte Gressier,French Carribean Islands .Martinique                                                            
 Resource Person - Jagdish Lodhia, GOPIO Intl. Coordinator for Oceania, Sydney, Australia
 
TEA BREAK
10.30 -10.45 am

Plenary Session - 5
10.45 am-12.0 noon

Topic: Empowering Indian and Diaspora Women
Session Chair: Rita Abraham, GOPIO International Coordinator, Africa,                    
 
Speakers/Panelists: Mini Guleria, Co-Chair, GOPIO Media Council, Tarzana, California, USA
                        Suman Kapoor, Co-Chair, GOPIO Council on Seniors, New Zealand
Charu Pragya, Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha National Incharge (Legal Cell)
Rini Johar, President, GOPIO-Redwood City/San Francisco, CA, USA
                        HinaTrivedi, President, GOPIO-Chicago, USA                               
                        Anju Garg, President, GOPIO-Los Angles, California, USA                
                                
Resource Person:     Dr. Indrani Rampersad, GOPIO Life Member, Trinidad, West Indies
 
Plenary Session - 6
12 Noon -1.00 pm
Topic: Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Investment and Start Up India
                
Session Chair:Kurian Abraham, GOPIO International Coordinator for South Asia, Kochi, India
 
Speakers/Panelists: Dr. Deepak Kant Vyas,Redberri Earth Foundation, Illinois, USA
                        Navin Pathak, Partner, Entry India, LLC, New Jersey, USA
Dr. Ramewshwar Singh, President, GOPIO Moscow, Russia
                        K.V. Shamshudeen, Chairman, Pravasi Bandhu Welfare Trust, Sharjah, UAE
                        Achal Mehra, Visiting Professor, Indian Institute of Technology, GandhinagarM gUJARAT, iNDIA
 
Resource Person: Sunil Rawla, CA, S Rawla Associates, GOPIO official for Liaison with GOI

Session -7 Conclusion Session and Resolutions
1.00-1.30 pm
 
Chair: Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman, GOPIO International
Conference Conclusions: Dr. Asha Samant, Conference Chair, GOPIO Convention
Resolutions: Dr. Rajeev Mehta, Secretary, GOPIO International
Closing Remarks: Sunny Kulathakal, President, GOPIO International

GOPIO CONVENTION REGISTRATION

Register by sending $50 as registration fee using a credit as follows:
 
Payments Using PayPal
 
 
Choose:        Make online payment
 
Select option: Pay for items or services quickly and securely
 
 
Amount Currency: USD
 
Contact: Convention Chairman and GOPIO President Sunny Kulathakal at kulathakal44@gmail.com, Tel: in Bahrain + 973 39441956; in India +91 9845756692
 
Contact: Conference Committee Chairperson Dr. Asha Samant, E-mail: ashasamant42@gmail.com
MEA AND UP GOVT. TO HOST PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS 2019
PBD2017), JAN 7-9, 2017
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will organize the 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) from January 21-23, 2019 in Varanasi, UP, India. PBD has become a significant forum to connect the overseas Indians from all over the world and the PBD-2019 will be focusing on more connectivity with overseas Indians with a theme "Role of Indian Diaspora in building a New India."
PBD2019 and Dashashwamedh Ghat  
Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth will be the Chief Guest of the Convention. Member of Parliament of Norway Himanshu Gulati will be the Special Guest and Member of Parliament of New Zealand Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi will be the Guest of Honor at the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.
 
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention a flagship event of the Indian Government, provides an important platform to engage and connect with the overseas Diaspora.
 
To register, visit: https://pbdindia.gov.in/en
REGISTER FOR PBD 2019 UNDER THE CATEGORY OF GOPIO WITH SPECIAL DISCOUNTS
 
To register for PBD, visit:https://pbdindia.gov.in/en. Click Register Now and then Group Registration of GOPIO-USA. GOPIO members can register for PBD 2019 with 35% discounts as follows.
 
One day Registration $150 (with 35% discount $97.5 + $7 PayPal Com'n = $104.50)
Two days Registration $200 (with 35% discount $130 + $7 PayPal Com'n = $137.00)
Three days registration $250 (with 35% discount $162.5 + $7 PayPal Com'n = $169.50)
 
The discount for GOPIO is based on having 51-100 registrants. Once we reach the number to 101 registrants the discount rate will jump to 50%. If we reach above 100 registrations, we will refund additional registration fee collected to the registrants.
 
After one completes the registration, make the payment to GOPIO using a credit card through PayPal link below:
 
Payments Using PayPal
Choose:        Make online payment
Select option:Pay for items or services quickly and securely
GOPIO Email:gopiofunds@gmail.com
Amount Currency: USD
 
People in USA can send check and save the commission. However, they have option of ease of payment through PayPal using credit card and pay the commission or send a check to the following address:
 
Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), 11433 Arlee Ave., Norwalk, CA 90650
 
Once a person registers under GOPIO group, GOPIO will be notified with registration number and amount that person owes. When making the payment through PayPal or check they must include the name and registration number they are given at the time of registration. There is also a link at the bottom "Where to Stay" that registrants can click to book the hotels. You would need the registration number for the same.
 
Questions and Answers by PBD Secretariat:
 
  1. How can GOPIO members register for PBD?
 
Every GOPIO member has to register himself/herself under the GOPIO group.
 
  1. In each registration form, an email id is needed. If there are two family members (husband and wife) and both use same email, how can one bypass this?
 
Only one participant can register under one email Id. If there are two people, like in case of husband and wife, they have to register through two different email Ids. 
 
  1. On the registration form there are three choices, Indian National, NRI, PIO. What category OCI card holders fall?
 
The OCI card holder can register under the PIO category. 
 
  1. Is there a code or number to use for hotel booking during PBD days? Please advise how to proceed. Is registration number must for hotel booking?
 
Yes, for every registration, a Registration Id is generated. Please use that registration Id to book your hotels for the PBD to receive discounted rates that the PBD Secretariat negotiated with these hotels. Click on "Where to Stay" link to go to Hotel info.
 
 
Contact: Kewal Kanda, Treasurer: GOPIO-Int'l, Norwalk, California, USA, Tel: +1 562-897-6976, E-mail: kewalkanda@yahoo.com
 
Ankita Mittal US (OIA-II), PBD Secretariat, New Delhi, Indi, Tel: +91- 011-24197111 and 011-24197996 (9 am to 5:30 pm on weekdays) or contact e-mail at a.mittal13@mea.gov.in or PBD Secretariat supportpbd@mea.gov.in
GOPIO LIFE MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER FORMATION
 
GOPIO is a non-partisan, non-sectarian global organization with chapters in several countries, actively promoting the interests of people of Indian origin worldwide by monitoring and addressing current critical issues of concern, and by enhancing cooperation and communication between groups of Indians living in various countries.
 
GOPIO Individual Life membership is open to all who believe in the mission of GOPIO. The one- time fee is $5,000 for Platinum Life Membership, $2,500 for Gold Life Membership and $1,500 Silver Life Membership and 2/3rdthe amount for each category for those from developing countries and India.
 
GOPIO is looking forward to opening chapters in all major cities of the world, so as to network with people of Indian origin all over the world. If you do not have a chapter in your city, please visit the GOPIO website (www.gopio.net) and get details of chapter initiation (visit http://www.gopio.net/chapter_initiative.htm). This process involves sending a letter of intent to start a chapter by a committee of five people or more. For more information, contact:
 
GOPIO Chairman - Dr. Thomas Abraham, Stamford, Connecticut, USA, Tel: +1-203-329-8010, E-mail: gopio@optonline.net
 
GOPIO President - Sunny Kulathakal, Bahrain, +973-39441956, India +91-9845756692, E-mail: kulathakal44@gmail.com
 
GOPIO Executive Vice President - Ishwar Ramlutchman, Durban, South Africa, Tel: +27-83-3578747, E-mail: ramlutchmanishwar@gmail.com
 
GOPIO Vice President - Ram Gadhavi, Wayne, New Jersey, USA, Tel: +1-973-699-8582, E-mail: ram@gadhavi.net
 
GOPIO's Global Ambassador - Issac John, Dubai, UAE, +971-50 625 9941, E-mail: isacjohn@gmail.com
 
GOPIO Secretary - Dr. Rajeev Mehta, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA, Tel: +1-732-986-2584, rajimehta@hotmail.com
Executive Trustee of GOPIO Foundation - Inder Singh, Tarzana, California, USA, Tel: +1-818-708-3885, E-mail: indersinghusa@gmail.com
 
GICC Chairman - Niraj Baxi, San Jose, California, USA, Tel: 408-307-9845, E-mail: nbaxi@insuranceplanning.com
 
To become a Life member of GOPIO, visit http://www.gopio.net/gopio_membership.html, print and fill up the form and send it with a check to:. GOPIO International, PO Box 1413, Stamford, CT 06904, USA

EDITORIAL BOARD

Chief Editor: Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman, GOPIO International (Stamford, CT, USA)
Editor: J. Nami Kaur, Media Council Chair, GOPIO International (New York, USA)
Associate Editors: Layla Matthew (Bangalore, India), Harry Walia (Australia), Marlan Padayachee (South Africa)
Webmasters: Abu Thomas (Ardsley, New York, USA)

Contributors of this issue: Sunny Kulathakal, President, GOPIO International (Bahrain); Dr. Asha Samant, GOPIO International Coordinator-at-Large (Livingston, New Jersey, USA) 

GOPIO NEWS welcomes NRI/PIO related stories from all over the world. Be a volunteer correspondent or reporter. 
 
Contact Dr. Thomas Abraham, Tel: 203-329-8010, E-mail: gopio@optonline.net.

Visit GOPIO's Official site at www.gopio.net or www.gopio.com
  
Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) Inc., P.O. Box 1413, Stamford, CT 06904-1413
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