|
The Internship Programme for Diaspora Youth (IPDY) will now be a regular feature of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and will be held 3-4 times every year including the one to coincide with the Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas. This was disclosed here today by Shri S. Krishna Kumar, Secretary, M/o Overseas Indian Affairs while interacting with the youth members of the Indian Diaspora who have gathered here from various parts of the world to take part in the 3-week Internship Programme from 22nd Aug. to 11 Sept., 2005.
Earlier the IPDY used to be a part of the Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas and was being organised once a year coinciding with the Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas celebrations.
Shri Krishna Kumar said that with a view to give the participants a feel of the Indian rural scene, a special 10-day attachment in the State of Uttranchal has been added. During this attachment the participants will be exposed to the process of development and governance at the state & grass root levels and interact with the premier institutions & civil society bodies in the state & federal levels. This also gives them an opportunity to visit Rishikesh, one of the premier spiritual centres of the country, he added.
The 24 youths who are in the age group 16-26 years belong to US, Thailand, Canada, South Africa, Fiji, Malaysia, Israel, UK and Zambia. They posed a number of queries about various issues and developmental scenario in India. Almost half of them have been to India earlier but at a very young age. The participation in the Internship Programme has given them a unique opportunity to view how India is transforming itself towards a developed country and emerging as a land of opportunities, they expressed.
AK/SK/JA
|
