Welfare Schemes for Indian Diaspora Youth

Below are the major schemes implemented by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs for the welfare of the children of Indian-origin living abroad:   Know India Programmes (KIP)  Know India Programmes (KIP) is a three week orientation programme for diaspora youth between the age of 18-26 years and the participants are selected on the basis of nominations received from Indian Missions/Posts abroad.   The programme is conducted to promote awareness on different facets of India and the progress made by India in industry, economy, infrastructure, higher education, art and culture etc. Besides attachments with key Institutions in Delhi, they also undertake field visits to places of historical/cultural importance. The participants also visit a state in India for one week besides meeting various constitutional authorities like the CEC and C & AG. 623 overseas Indian youth have participated in this programme so far.   Tracing the Roots   Under this scheme, PIOs desirous of tracing their roots in India may fill up the prescribed application form enclosing relevant information/ documents available with them and deposit it with the concerned Indian Mission located in that country along with a fee of Rs.30,000/-. Based on the details furnished by the applicant, MOIA will entrust the job of tracing the roots to an agency empanelled with it who in turn may take the help of the concerned State Govt./District Admn. etc. to successfully complete the job. The traced details of roots in India, i.e. name of close surviving relative(s); place of origin of their forefathers (paternal and maternal side); and a possible family tree, are made available to the applicant. In case the attempt is not successful, the Indian Mission is authorized to refund Rs 20,000/- to the applicant.   Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC)  Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC) was introduced in the academic year 2006-2007 with the objective to make higher education in India accessible to the children of overseas Indians and promote India as a centre for higher studies.  Under the scheme, 100 PIO/NRI students are awarded scholarship of up to US$ 4,000 per annum for undergraduate courses in Engineering, Technology, Humanities, Liberal Arts, Commerce, Management, Journalism, Hotel Management, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and some other courses.   Study India Programme  The Study India Programme is envisaged as a means of enhancing engagement with the diaspora youth. The objective of the Scheme is to enable overseas Indian youth i.e. foreign citizens of Indian origin in the age group of 18-26 years to undergo short term courses in the nature of summer schools to familiarize them with the art & culture, heritage, history, economy and development of India. Such short term courses shall aim at providing an opportunity to the overseas Indian youth to better understand and appreciate contemporary India, foster closer ties with the land of their ancestors and enhance their engagement with India.   For further reading about the schemes and services of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA): http://moia.gov.in/services.aspx?mainid=23