Gujarati Diaspora Day was jointly organised under the aegis of NRG Foundation, NRI Division, Government of Gujarat in association with FICCI, Akhil Bharat Gujarati Samaj on 17.02.2013 at Vadodara. Simultaneously, Vibrant VCCI-2013 Exhibition was also held from 14-18.02.2013. 

Chief Guest at the Inaugural Programme was Shri Pradipsinh Jadeja, Hon’ble Minister of State, Law and Justice, Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs and Dr. Charu WaliKhanna, Member, NCW was Guest of Honour. 

Among other dignitaries who graced the occasion included Dr. Jyotiben Pandya, Mayor, Vadodara; Shri Arvind Agrawal, IAS, Law Secretary, Gujarat; Shri N. V. Patel, Chairman, VUDA; Shri Vinod Rao, IAS, Collector, Vadodara; Shri B.B. Dwivedi, Chairman, Gujarati Diaspora Day; Ms Avi Sabavala, President, VCCI; Dr. Maganbhai Parmar, Dean, Faculty of Social work, M.S. University; Shri O.P. Juneja, President, NRI Parents’ Association. 

Dr. Charu WaliKhanna, Member in her speech in the presence of Shri Pradipsinh Jadeja, Hon’ble Minister said that NCW had developed the guidelines for service providers in cases of Violence against Women especially Rape/Sexual Assault and hoped that Gujarat would take a lead in implementing the guidelines so that they are made available at every police station, hospital, etc. with any additional information and emergency contact numbers. 

In the session “Guidance on Marriages to Overseas Indians” Dr. Charu WaliKhanna informed the gathering of over 2000 persons, mostly girls, on the perils of marrying an Overseas Indian more popularly known as ‘NRIs’. She also distributed the book titled “Abandoned Indian Woman : Trapped in NRI Marriage” developed by NCW. She also cautioned parents not to blindly get their daughters married to Overseas Indians without verifying the antecedents. During the interactive session she answered questions relating to marriages with NRIs. 

Dr. Yogesh Singh, Vice Chancellor, MS University of Baroda was the Chief Guest and presence of Ms Gurpreet Kaur Deo, GP, NRI Affairs, Punjab Police was through video conferencing. The programme was attended by representatives of over 15 NRI associations all over the world including NRI Parents’ Association. To attract and entertain the audience a T.V. serial actress popularly known as “Daya Ben” also spoke on the need for women to be independent, at this point over 5,000 persons were present.

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