NEW YORK (TIP): In an exclusive interview to The Indian Panorama, November 14, Mr. Dnyaneshwar M Mulay,Secretary (CPV & OIA), Indian External Affairs Ministry said, “PBD 2017 will be unique and unprecedented in terms of content and expected outcome”.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) in Bengaluru, which is scheduled to take place on January 7, 8 and 9, 2017 is likely to be attended by close to 3000 Non-Residential Indians and delegates from across the world, Mr. Mulay said. Mr. Mulay highlighted how Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has been working ceaselessly in the last 10 months to bring significant changes so that NRIs can connect with India in a better way. The Govt is keen to address the issues of concern to the Indian Diaspora and seek their insights and suggestions. Those suggestions will be given great importance to transform them into proper actions. To a question about a perceptible loss of interest among NRIs in the PBD during the last couple of years, Mr. Mulay lamented that PBD had failed to attract NRIs during the last couple of years as it could not effectively address their concerns. But, over the last couple of months a vigorous exercise to focus on the issues impacting the Diaspora has been undertaken and the coming PBD 2017 being held in Bengaluru on January 7,8 and 9 will surely be different. He said there was enormous response to the forthcoming PBD. He extended an invitation to Indian Diaspora to visit India which was fast transforming and attend the PBD as well.

Mr. Mulay who was transiting through New York on his way to Canada spent a couple of hours meeting with members of Indian American community in Long Island and shared his views with   a gathering of about 50 persons who had come from all over the tristate area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.