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Lok Sabha
The idea of a Pravasi Bharatiya Bhawan had been put forward by the late Shri Prakashvir Shastri in a letter to the former PM, the late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Pandit Nehru had replied to Shri Shastri just two days before his death greatly appreciating it as an idea deserving implementation. Shri Shastri had planned to register a Trust for this purpose and several eminent persons had agreed to be Trustees. Unfortunately, with the passing away of Shri Shastri, the idea could not be translated into reality. This was stated by the Minister of State (IC) for Overseas Indian Affairs, Shri Jagdish Tytler in reply to a question by Shri Badiga Ramakrishna in Lok Sabha today.
He further added that the following the recommendations of the High Level Committee on the Indian Diaspora and the announcement of the then Prime Minister at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2004, action has been taken to get suitable land allotted for the proposed Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra.
The design and drawings of the proposed Kendra are likely to be finalised in the next financial year and work tendered out thereafter. The kendra is expected to be functional in about two years thereafter.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra would become the focal point of interactions between India and its Diaspora. It would house facilities for harnessing the vast talent among the Overseas Indians including a library, documentation centre, an exhibition complex, auditorium, visitors room etc.
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