The Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) of New York, New Jersey & Connecticut (FIATristate) was conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman last week during the16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) celebrations. The FIA received the honours for community service, according to the MEA website.
A total of 30 individuals and organizations from across the globe were conferred the honours, the highest for non-resident Indians (NRIs), in the presence of President Ram Nath Kovind and PM Narendra Modi. Established in 1970, FIA-Tristate celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 2020. Since its inception, the Gujarati diaspora settled in the US has remained an important part of the federation. Ramesh Patel, the founding member of the federation, played an important role in making the India Day Parade the biggest celebration of Independence Day outside India. The three states have one of the highest concentrations of Gujarati population, said members.
“We are very proud, humbled and thankful to be the recipient of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman,” said Anil Bansal, the president of the body. “This award is for exceptional and meritorious contribution to India and to social and humanitarian causes.”
Ankur Vaidya, the chairman of the FIA, said that even during one of the worst times in recent history, the federation continued to shine through its initiatives. “We managed with the motivated team and Ramesh Patel’s spirit and soul to show us light and inspiration,” he said. “This is only the beginning and bigger and better things are coming.”
India ready to save world: PM Modi
India is ready to help protect the world with not one but two ‘Made in India’ coronavirus vaccines, PM Narendra Modi said while addressing the inaugural function 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention. Modi said: “In the corona era, today India is among the countries with the lowest mortality and highest recovery rate in the world. Today, India is ready to protect humanity with not one, but two Made in India corona vaccines.”
He also said India has the most vibrant democracy, days after the violence on Capitol Hill shocked the US and much of the world. In his virtual address on the theme of ‘Contributing to Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, he said: “Being the pharmacy of the world, India has supplied important medicines to all those in need in the world in the past and is also doing so now.”
“When India got Independence it was said that such a poor and under-literate country will disintegrate and democracy was impossible here. Today’s truth is that India is united and if democracy is most strong, vibrant and lively anywhere in the world, it is in India,”he said.
The past year, he said, had been challenging for everyone. “...but in the midst of these challenges, the way Indian-origin colleagues across the world have worked, it is a matter of pride for all of us”.Modi said he felt very proud about the praise for Indian diaspora and also lauded them for their contributions to the PM-CARES Fund, which has been used to boost health infrastructure in the country.
