'Know Goa' programme for NRI youth of Goan origin

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2008-11-11
PANAJI-The Commissionerate for NRI Affairs has formulated the ‘Know Goa’ programme for youth of Goan origin, who are not Indian nationals, and have distinguished themselves in a particular field, as professionals or students, and who have an abiding interest in India. The programme will be an annual feature.
Addressing a press conference on Monday the Commissioner for NRI Affairs, Mr Eduardo Faleiro said that the first programme to be held this year will be from November 30 to December 14, 2008 in which 11 participants coming from Australia, Canada, Mozambique, Trinidad and Tobago and the USA will participate.
He further said that director of NRI Affairs is coordinating the programme, Mr U D Kamat will be held in Goa and Delhi. It has been organised in collaboration with government and non-governmental agencies including the Nehru Yuvak Kendra.
During their stay in Goa, the participants will visit the Goa University, National Institute of Oceanography, Chowgule College, BITS Pilani and interact with the students and staff.
They will attend the feast of St Francis Xavier, visit Pilar Seminary, Mangueshi, Shantadurga and Chandreshwar temples, the Safa Masjid and meet religious leaders.
The participants will also go to villages and observe the making of village handicrafts, indigenous games and dances, witness a mock gram sabha and visit the South Goa Zilla Parishad office.
They will also stop at several other places of tourist and general interest in Goa, said Mr Faleiro adding that the Chief Minister of Delhi, Ms Sheila Dixit is likely to meet the visiting group in Delhi. The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has also agreed to assist the group during their stay in Delhi
Mr Faleiro also said that he had a proposal to bring together on one platform, all Goan organisations outside Goa, whether in India or abroad and after consultations with a significant number of such organisations the commissionerate would set up the Global Goans Forum to arrange regular activities for interaction with and amongst the Goan Diaspora.
The forum will play a vital role in research, data management and policy support, said the NRI Commissioner adding that a preliminary meeting on this subject was held last Friday at the Secretariat and representatives of the Goan community in Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi and Kenya participated.
He also said that he has requested Indian ambassadors and high commissioners across the world to contact Goan organisations so that they may appoint their representatives and help finalise the plan of action towards constitution of the Global Goans Forum.
Mr Faleiro also said that he has been invited to address the Asia Pacific Summit Conference to be held from next Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan adding that some heads of state and government as well as senior parliamentarians and diplomats from the Asia Pacific region will address it. He will leave for Japan on Tuesday.
He further said that he has written to Indian envoy in Japan to identify Goan residents in Tokyo so that he could meet them but the embassy has not been able to contact any such persons so far.
He has called upon Goans in Tokyo to get in touch with the Indian embassy so that they could arrange a meeting where the ambassador and he will interact with the Goan expatriates.