Dr. Charu WaliKhanna, Member, NCW, was Eminent Speaker at 'Pravasi Bhartiya Divas' on 07.01.2014 organized by Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports during 07-09 January 2014 at Vigyan Bhawan, Delhi.

The programme began with the inauguration of exhibition by Shri Vayalar Ravi, Hon'ble Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs & Sh. Jitendra Singh Hon'ble Minister of State(IC) for Youth Affairs & Sports.

Speaking at the Plenary Session of Youth PBD- Aspirations of Diaspora Youth, Dr. Charu WaliKhanna, Member, said that India is the intellect bowl of the world and its vibrant youth who migrate overseas forbetter opportunities contribute to development of India. She welcomed the inclusion of the theme on PBD YOUTH for the first time and acknowledged with pleasure the role of overseas Indians in the development of the country. She further said that in India many a girl dreams of marrying an enterprising overseas youth, but marriage sometime ends up being a traumatic ordeal for the girl, when the innocent girl is abandoned after a brief honeymoon or her husband vanishes and she is left waiting for him at the airport in a foreign land.

Member spoke extensively about NRI Cell in NCW and its functioning since NCW has been nominated as the Coordinating agency at the National level for dealing with issues pertaining NRI marriages vide Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs order dated 28th April 2008. She stressed that matrimonial disputes are one of the most challenging and complex areas for legal intervention. The prevalence of marriages solemnized under various personal laws in India and international laws adds to the complexity of these disputes.Member emphasized that the Indian Diaspora are ambassadors of Indian culture and they should set an example by their hard work and sincerity and not by deceiving young innocent brides.

The Session was chaired by Shri Manish Tewari, Hon'ble Minister of State (IC) for Information & Broadcasting. Dr. Renu Khator,Chancellor, Univ of Houston System and President, Univ of Houston narrated her rise from a small town in Uttar Pradesh not knowing English to being the Head of a prestigious institution overseas and Ms. Kirty Vedika Matabadal from Netherlands spoke on institutiona mechanisms to connect with the youth overseas.

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