Pravasi Bharatiya Samman 2014 awarded

The 12th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas concluded with president awarding Pravasi Bharatiya Samman to 12 individuals and 1 institution this year. The event with the theme 'Engaging Diaspora: Connecting Across Generations' was held from January 7–9 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

List of Recipients:

• Lisa Maria Singh (Australia) : for Public service and fostering friendly relations between India and Australia.
• Kurian Varghese (Bahrain) : for Business for enhancing India’s image and for Promotion better understanding of India abroad.
• Vasdev Chanchlani (Canada) : for Community service and fostering ties between India and Canada and efforts in promotion Indian culture and heritage.
• Ramakrishna Mission (Fiji) : This sole institution in this category was awarded for Community service and philanthropic activity and enhancing India’s prestige abroad.
• Satnarainsing Rabin Baldewsingh (Netherlands) : for Public service and developing closer ties between India and South Africa.
• Bikas Chandra Sanyal (France) : for Education and culture and enhancing India’s image.
• Sasindran Muthuvel (Papua New Guinea) for the field of Public service.
• Shihabudeen Vava Kunju (Saudi Arabia) : for the Community service and promoting ties between India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Ela Gandhi (South Africa) : for Public service, enhancing India’s image and promoting ties between India and South Africa.
• Shamsheer Vayalil Parambath (UAE) : for Health business and in promoting better understanding of India United Arab Emirates.
• Shailesh Lakhman Vara (UK) : for Public service and in promoting ties between India and the people of UK
• Parthasarathy Chiramel Pillai (US) for Science and for fostering closer relations between India and US.
• Renu Khator (US) : for Education and enhancing India’s prestige abroad.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas:

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, as evident by the name itself, is a day dedicated to celebrate the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the development of India. The day is celebrated annually on 9th January as a tribute to the homecoming of father of the nation 'Mahatma Gandhi' who had returned from South Africa on this very date in 1915.

PBD conventions:
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) conventions, being held since 2003, provide a common platform (a forum) to the overseas Indians to engage with the Indian government and one another for issues of mutual interest. The event, held on 7–9 January every year in an Indian city, offers opportunity for NRIs to connect with their ancestral roots.  On this occasion the president bestows Pravasi Bharatiya Samman to individuals/institutions appreciating their contribution to India's pride and success in some way or the other.

The difference between Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI), Non-Resident Indian (NRI) and Person of Indian Origin (PIO):

OCI
Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) is a sort of ‘Dual Citizenship’ awarded to a 'Persons of Indian Origin' (PIOs) of certain category who migrated from India and acquired citizenship of a foreign country other than Pakistan and Bangladesh, are eligible for grant of OCI as long as their home countries allow dual citizenship in some form or the other under their local laws. Such persons are not entitled to any voting rights, election to state or central legislature, and holding Constitutional posts such as President, Vice President, Judge of Supreme Court/High Court etc. 

This grant result in following benefits

• Life long visa to visit India with multiple entry and multi-purpose facilities.
• They can stay for any length in India with impunity from reporting to Police authorities.
• They are treated as equivalent to NRIs in financial, economic and educational matters, however such is not the case in the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.

An OCI can be granted Indian citizenship if...

• He/She is registered as OCI for five years and has been residing in India for one year out of the five years before making the application.

Non-Resident Indian (NRI):

• An Indian Citizen who stays abroad for any business, like for study or employment, for an uncertain duration is a non-resident.  
• Non-resident foreign citizens of Indian Origin are treated on par with non-resident Indian citizens (NRIs) for the purpose of certain facilities.
• Persons staying abroad on official deputation by Central/State Governments and Public Sector undertakings on temporary assignments are also treated as non-residents.

Person of Indian Origin (PIO):

They are categorized into 2 based on their purpose

For having bank accounts and investments in shares/securities in India

A citizen of any country other than Pakistan or Bangladesh if...

• He/She ever held an Indian passport.
• The applicant or either of his/her parents or grand parents was a citizen of India as per Citizenship Act, 1955 (57 of 1995) of Indian Constitution.
• The applicant is a legal spouse of an Indian citizen

For investments in immovable properties
Any individual (must not be a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, China or Iran)

• Who ever held an Indian passport.
• who or either of whose father/grandfather was a citizen of India as per Citizenship Act, 1955 (57 of 1995) of Indian Constitution.