By Arun Kumar
Washington, Dec 28 (IANS) The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) will recognise seven persons with its community service awards at a convention in New Delhi Jan 6 just before Pravas Bharatiya Divas 2010.

The annual awards to recognize and honour those NRIs and PIOs who have provided significant community and public service or done philanthropic work for the Indian diaspora and/or to India will be presented at a function presided by Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi.

Ravi will also deliver the keynote address. The guest of honour will be . Lenny Saith, Minister in Office of the Trinidad and Tobago prime minister.

The awardees for this year are Rajen Ramnath, Netherlands; Datuk Vinod Sekhar, Malaysia; Lachmandas Pagarani, Dubai, UAE Dr. Prabhakar, now living in Kerala and Ramesh Gupta, USA. Special awards will go to Dr Jagat Motwani, USA, and Issac John, Dubai, UAE

“We at GOPIO feel privileged to recognize a few NRIs/PIOs who have contributed significantly to their respective countries of adoption as well as to India, and have also contributed to the remarkable resurgence of India,” said Diljit Rana, president of GOPIO International.

GOPIO chairman Inder Singh said: “The award is a reflection of their remarkable accomplishments and commendable services. By honouring such people, we hope that their example will motivate more NRIs/PIOs to serve overseas Indian community and the people of India with their service and generosity.”

GOPIO has also planned a day-long conference comprising three sessions on “India’s Emerging Economy and The Diaspora”; “Family Issues in the Global Indian Diaspora”; and “Enhancing Intra-Connectivity and Liaison with the Global Indian Diaspora”.

Keynote speakers for the three sessions will be Meghnad Desai, Navneet Dholakia, and Bhikhu Parekh, all members of the British House of Lords, respectively.

Since its inception in 1989, GOPIO has been organising conferences and conventions in different parts of the world to mobilise the global NRI/PIO community. During the last few years alone, GOPIO has organized ten international conferences.

Besides providing a globally recognized platform for dialogue and discussion to the worldwide Indian diaspora, GOPIO’s conferences and conventions continue to help bring the Indian diaspora closer to India and strengthen the inherent bonds between India and the globally spread diaspora.