kolkatapost: GOPIO NEWS SPECIAL BULLETIN -- December 18, 2011

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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. One can become Life Member online by visitinghttp://www.gopio.net/online_membership.html.

GOPIO TO HOST ANNUAL MEETING AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS BANQUET IN CONJUNCTION WITH PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS 2012

GOPIO INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL MEETING & COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS BANQUET IN CONJUNCTION WITH PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS 2012

GOPIO International has scheduled its annual Community Service Awards Banquet on January 6, 2012 in Jaipur, India along with GOPIO's General Council Meetings on January 6, 2012 preceding Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD2012) events of January 7 - 9, 2010.

GOPIO is inviting community representatives to provide country and regional reports on issues and prospects pertaining to Indian Diaspora in all countries with substantial NRI/PIO population. If you like to present a report from yiuyr country on the state of affairs NRI/PIO issues and and prospects, please contact GOPIO President Ashook Ramsaran at tel: 718/939-8194 or 917/519-5783 (cell), E-mail:ramsaran@aol.com.

The GOPIO Community Service Awards (GOPIO CSA) are given for outstanding community service, public service and/or significant charitable or philanthropic contributions of benefit to the community.

Program Outline as follows:

11:00am GOPIO Executive Meeting
12:30pm Lunch
1:30pm Regional & Country Reports
7:00pm Cocktails and Networking Reception
8:00pm GOPIO CSA Banquet

Date - Friday,January 6, 2012

Registration Fee for the Banquet Only - Rs. 1,500 or US $ 30 (Seating is limited.

REGISTER ONLINE AT THE GOPIO WEBSITE, www.gopio.net

(or click http://www.gopio.net/Pravasi_Bharatiya_Divas_2012.htm)

Veenue - Hotel Marriott Jaipur (Jaipur, Rajasthan)

JAIPUR MARRIOTT HOTEL - GOPIO International is proud to select Marriott Jaipur as its host hotel and hospitality partner. Marriott Jaipur is a new, modern, convenient and comfortable hotel (also the official hotel of PBD 2012). Thoe who are registered for GOPIO conference and/or banquet are eligible to avail of the special rates, use the CODE - PIO and make a reservation for Rs. 6,600 plus tax for double occupancy including breakfast. Need credit card to reserve directly at the hotel (copy Munish Gupta, Coordinator moviegupta@gmail.com your reservation confirmation).

Jaipur Marriott hotel is strategically located close to the heart of the city as well as the airport. It offers perfect accommodation for leisure as well as business travelers. The contemporary hotel has 300 spacious rooms including 15 suites and 1 Presidential suite, catering to the MICE and leisure traveler. Marriott Jaipur hotel is a perfect destination where work and pleasure blend seamlessly into each other.

GOPIO International and Marriott Jaipur are pleased to be able to enclose an offer tailored especially for GOPIO International, one that will completely fulfill all your needs and requirements. And, alongside the services and prices that Marriott Jaipur has thoughtfully drafted for you, there is lots of additional information gathered to explore. Jaipur Marriott Hotel (www.jaipurmarriott.com). This offer reserved for GOPIO International is valid for reservatuion until December 30, 2011.

Jaipur Marriott Hotel, Near Jawahar Circle, Ashram Marg, Jaipur - 302015, Rajasthan, India. Tel: +91 141 4567777 Fax: +91 141 4567887

GOPIO JOINS GUJARAT UNIVERSITY TO ORGANIZE DIASPORA CONFERENCE IN AHMEDABAD, JANUARY 2012

GOPIO joins hands with the Department of Study Abroad Program at the Gujarat University to organize a conference with the theme, INDIA DIASPORA - Inter Linkage and Synergy at Gujarat University campus in Ahmedabad on January 12 and 13^th, 2012. See announcement below:

GOPIO and Gujarat University Diaspora Conference

The impact of Indian Diaspora has motivated its homeland to map its history and factors for migration. Concerns for economic, political, cultural and social engagements of Indian Diaspora have been widely shown in the society. It has also brought sociologists and researchers to look into the process of migration and have found themselves into pondering upon the trends of Indian Diaspora.

The considerable presence of the Indian Diaspora in almost all parts of the world and its insistence upon sending success stories back home in spheres inspired homeland India to connect India with her Diaspora with renewed passion. This conference will look into the cultural, social, economic and political spheres of India's relations with its Diaspora and map on Diaspora history and its contribution to India in IT, infrastructure, education, research and technology, finance and banking, remittances, investments and oriental arts and cultures.

The conference organizing chairs are: Dr. Neerja Arun (Study Abroad Program of Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, India), Dr. Thomas Abraham (Founder President and Chairman Emeritus, GOPIO International) and Dr. Jagat Motwani (GOPIO Academic Council Chair 2004-2009).

Although, the deadline to submit is over, one may contact Dr. Neerja Arun to see whether there are any slots available for presentation.

INDIA DIASPORA - Inter Linkage and Synergy

Here and there: merging spheres
Transforming the local with global initiatives
Funder's agenda: pitching ideas for development

And finally, Role of Indian Diaspora in re-conceiving and reconstituting faith in physical and virtual places of spiritualism: India and Abroad

Contact: Dr. Neerja Arun, Study Abroad Program, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, India,drneerjaarun@yahoo.com or Dr. Thomas Abraham of GOPIO at gopio@optonline.net.

The International Indian Diaspora Conference

12th and 13th January, 2012, GOPIO & SAP at Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, India

For a registration ansd accommodaiton, contact the Conference Secretariat. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Dr Neerja Arun. Tel: +91-79-26303153 or +91- 9825012984 Fax: ++91-79-27910213 E-mail: drneerjaarun@yahoo.com

GOPIO TO HOST TRINIDAD & TOBAGO PRIME MINISTER KAMLA PERSAD-BISSESSAR IN KOLKATA

GOPIO International is hosting a special dinner in Kolkata on January 11, 2012 for Trinidad & Tobago's Prime Minister, Hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who is making a historic visit to the Kolkata Memorial on the first anniversary of its unveiling. Hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the first female Prime Minister of the twin-island state will be the chief guest at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) 2012 to be held in Jaipur on January 7-9, 2012.

The Kolkata Memorial pays tribute to those who left India as indentured Indian laborers from 1834 thru' 1920 and is inscribed with memorial plaques in Hindi and English in "recognition and remembrance of their journeys as Indian indentured laborers taken to far away lands seeking better livelihoods for themselves and their descendants".

It was inaugurated on January 11, 2011 at Kidderpore Depot along the Hoogley River in Kolkata by Hon Vayalar Ravi, Minister of India's Overseas Indian Affairs, along with now Chief Minister of West Bengal, Hon Mamta Banerjee. The unveiling was a attended by hundreds from several countries including Guyana, Trinidad, Surname, Guadeloupe, USA, Canada, UK, Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Kenya, Fiji, Mauritius, Re-Union Islands, New Zealand, Australia and other many others countries where Indians and persons of Indian origin reside.

A large contingent of PIOs from the Caribbean region will be in attendance as well as many GOPIO members from local and international groups. The event will be one of the highlights of the first official state visit to India by Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar.

Attendance to the planned dinner is by invitation only. For seating arrangements, RSVP is requested as soon as possible.

For details, contact: Mridul Pathak (Program Coordinating Chairperson) at calonline@gmail.com or Arundhuti Ganguli at arundhuti.ganguli@gmail.com (or tel 91-98-3063-2422)

PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS (PBD 2012) SCHEDULED FOR JAN. 7-9, 2012 IN JAIPUR

The 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) will be held from 7-9 January, 2012 in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Shri Vayalar Ravi, the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) and Civil Aviation, announced that the Chief Guest of PBD-2012 will be the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Ms. Kamla Persad Bissessar. The theme of PBD-2012 is "Global Indian-Inclusive Growth". It was announced that Rajasthan will be the partner State of the 10th PBD, which would provide the Diaspora an opportunity to understand the vibrant culture and potential of State.

Shri Ravi said that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will inaugurate this annual flagship event of the Ministry on January 8, and the President Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil will deliver the valedictory address on January 9 and confer the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Awards. He also informed that two pre-conference seminars on 'Solar Energy- Investment' and R&D' and 'Social Entrepreneurship-Water' will also be organized during the event.

The Minister said that more than 1500 delegates are expected to participate in PBD-2012 from all over the world. He said that Government is making efforts to make PBD more meaningful and interactive event that would address issues and concerns of the overseas Indian community effectively. He also announced that the event would be webcast online and summary of proceedings put out each day. The interactive website would provide an opportunity for the Diaspora to participate in the conference from any corner of the world. On the occasion, he also launched the PBD website- www.pbdindia.org.

For further details and registration, visit www.pbdindia.org

Note: GOPIO Members can register for PBD2012 at 50% discount. Visit the registration website athttps://events.kuoni-dmc.com/ei18/getdemo.ei?id=850070&s=_FDS0UBYT0. When you reach to the payment page, click GOPIO member to get the 50% discount.

GOPIO-JAIPUR AND GOPIO-AHMEDABAD LAUNCH SCHDULED

GOPIO-JAIPUR TO BE LAUNCHED ON DECEMBER 23^RD, 2011

GOPIO has been initiating chapters in major cities of India. These chapters will provide a forum and an opportunity to network for NRIs who are settling back in India, NRI parents and those who have business, technology and educational interest to reach out to NRIs. Such Indian chapters will provide opportunities to share ideas and interests on common interest with visiting NRIs and help in social, community and philanthropic causes of the local community as well as develop activities such as Youth Exchange programs with GOPIO India chapters and GOPIO network around the world. The Indian chapters could also become conduit to deliver services to the local community utilizing resources from the global Indian communities, functioning within the guidelines and within the objectives of GOPIO International.

Special Guest

Dr. Thomas Abraham

Founder President, GOPIO International and

Executive Trustee, GOPIO International Foundation

Program:

6:00 pm to 6:30 pm - Networking Reception

6.30 pm - GOPIO-Jaipur Launch, Talk, and Interactive Session Followed by Dinner

Date and Time:

Friday, December 23rd

Place:

Conference Centre, CEG Tower, B-11G Malaviya Industrial Area, Jaipur

Confirm your participation by sending an e-mail to GOPIO-Jaipur Coordinators.

Gopal Mehta at 09928852100 (e-mail: mehtagopal@yahoo.com) or Viswas Jain at 09929094199 (e-mail:vishwas@cegindia.com) or Rajiv Jain 09413350005 (E-mail: rajmehmwal@yahoo.com) or Mr. Suresh Singhvi 09829052 (E-mail: pm.sharma@gmail.com)

GOPIO-AHMEDABAD TO BE LAUNCHED ON JANUARY 11^TH, 2012

GOPIO plans to launch GOPIO-Ahmedabad in conjunction with the Diaspora Conference organized by Gujarat University's Study Abroad program on Jan. 12^thand 13^th.GOPIO Founder President and Chairman Emeritus Dr. Thomas Abraham will be the guest speaker. Former NRIs settled in the Ahmedabad area and those interested in to network with NRIs/PIOs (i.e. parents of NRI children and those with business interest) are invited.

Program

5:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Networking Reception, Coffee/Tea and Snacks

5.30 pm - 7.00 p.m. GOPIO-Ahmedabad Launch, Talk, and Interactive Session

7.00 p.m. - Dinner (Venue will be announced later)

Date and Time:

Wednesday, January 11^th, 2012

Place:

Executive Meeting Room, Main Tower Building, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad

Confirm your participation by sending an e-mail to Dr. Neerja Arun 9825012984 or 079-25601314 or 26303153 (O) (e-mail: drneerjaarun@gmail.com)

GOPIO SYDNEY NORTH WEST TO ORGANIZE CARING AND SHARING CHARITY DINNER
GOPIO Sydney North West chapter invites everyone to "Caring & Sharing Charity Dinner" to be held on Saturday, 24 December 2011 at 6.00 p.m. at Sapphire Function Centre, 7 Station Road, Auburn. A fun filled evening with music, laughter & dance with DJ Disco Waves. Tickets: $30 per head and $100 for a family of four. All proceeds will be used for providing uniforms, warm sweaters, shoes, socks etc. to 150 students of Government Middle School, Village Gannjja, Distt. Gurdaspur, Punjab (India). This school has been identified as under privilaged school, where students come from very poor families. GOPIO Sydney North West chapter thanks their sponsors for their support. Last year GOPIO Sydney North West chapter provided similar support to under privilaged school in village Wara-Pohwindia, Zira, Dist. Ferozepur, where hand pump was provided for clean drinking water along with warm clothes, shoes, socks and stationary to all the students of Government Middle School. Photo above: The new handpump provided by GOPIO Sydney NW and shoes are provided to students in Wara-Pohwindia, Zira in Ferozepur District in Punjab in 2010 For more information please contact Ravi 0433 179 303, Raj 0433 330 722 or Harinder Kaur 0430 158 911.

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 half the 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 people of Indian origin all over the world. If you do not have chapter in your city, please visit GOPIO website (www.gopio.net) and get details of chapter initiation (visithttp://www.gopio.net/chapter_initiative.htm). 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 - Inder Singh, Tarzana, California, USA, Tel: +1-818-708-3885, E-mail: gopio-intl@sbcglobal.net.

GOPIO President - Ashook Ramsaran, Fresh Meadows, New York, USA, Tel: 718/939-8194, E-mail:ramsaran@aol.com

GOPIO Executive Vice President - Sunny Kulathakal, Bahrain, Tel: +973 39441956 or +91 9845756692, E-mail: Kulathakal@yahoo.com

To become a Life member of GOPIO, one can sign up online athttp://gopio.net/online_membership.htm or fill up the form and send it with a check to: GOPIO International, PO Box 560117, New York NY 11356, USA.

EDITORIAL BOARD

Chief Editor: Dr. Thomas Abraham, Founder President and Chairman Emeritus, GOPIO (Stamford, CT, USA)

Editor: Ashook Ramsaran, GOPIO President (New York, USA)

Webmasters: Prashant Gupta (Hyderabad, India) and Abu Thomas (New Rochelle, NY, USA)

Contributors of this issue: Inder Singh (Chairman, GOPIO Intl.), Nami Kaur (GOPIO Convention 2011), Suman Kapoor (GOPIO-Waikato, New Zealand), Dr. Piyush Agrawal (GOPIO Intl., USA) and Sangeeta Ahuja (GOPIO Health Council)

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