Aneesh Chopra, Obama's Indian American IT head, quits January 30, 2012 04:08
Aneesh Chopra, President Barack Obama's information technology honcho, who was the highest ranking Indian American in the Obama administration, is leaving the White House, apparently to try his hand at politics. Announcing the departure of Chopra, Assistant to the President and the federal government's first Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Obama said "Chopra did groundbreaking work to bring our government into the 21st century. "Aneesh found countless ways to engage the American people using technology, from electronic health records for veterans, to expanding access to broadband for rural communities, to modernizing government records." "His legacy of leadership and innovation will benefit Americans for years to come, and I thank him for his outstanding service." While the official announcement gave no reason for Chopra's resignation from White House, the Washington Post citing unnamed Democrats said he is widely expected to announce that he will run for lieutenant governor in Virginia. Chopra has flirted with running for statewide office in Virginia for years, building up support among Democratic activists and serving on Obama's transition team in 2008, it said. The timing of his resignation allows Chopra to campaign this year for his two former bosses: former governor Tim Kaine, who is running to replace retiring Senator James Webb this year; and Obama, who will face a tough fight in the swing state of Virginia. He is expected to attend Virginia Democrats' biggest fundraiser of the year, the Jefferson-Jackson dinner, Feb 11 in Richmond, where those who are looking to run statewide host parties and mingle with more than 1,500 activists, the Post said. The eldest son of Indian immigrants, Chopra, 40, was sworn in into his White House job on May 22, 2009 after serving as Secretary of Technology for the Commonwealth of Virginia from January 2006 to April 2009. He previously served as Managing Director with the Advisory Board Company, a publicly-traded healthcare think tank. Chopra was named to Government Technology magazine's Top 25 in their Doers, Dreamers, and Drivers issue in 2008. Aneesh Chopra received his BA from The Johns Hopkins University and his MPP from Harvard's Kennedy School.
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8 people of Indian origin in Padma list January 27, 2012 03:53
Ten people of Indian origin and foreigners have been awarded India's prestigious Padma awards announced on Wednesday. While seven have got the Padma Bhushan, three are listed for the Padma Shri. Amongst the eminent NRIs getting the Padma Bhushan are sculptor Anish Kapoor (Britain) and judge PC Rao (Germany). The list also includes four people in the literature and education category -- Vidya Dehejia, Arvind Panagariya and Jose Pereira from the US and Homi K Bhabha from Britain. Also in the Padma Bhushan is George Yong-Boon Yeo, Singapore's former Foreign Affairs Minister. Another Singaporean, Gopinath Pillai, is slated to get the Padma Shri in the trade and industry category.Shoji Shiba from Japan (trade and industry) and US-based professor Jagadish Shukla (science and engineering) are also in the list.
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India to Norway: Settle issue of Indian kids with family January 25, 2012 05:16
India on Monday conveyed to Norway that it should work out a settlement with the immediate family of two kids who are now under foster care on the orders of a local court there. External…
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Indian -origin surgeon Jayant Patel's appeal to be heard on Feb 10 January 25, 2012 04:40
Convicted Indian- origin surgeon Jayant Patel's appeal will be heard at an Australian High Court on February 10. His appeal will be heard by video link between Canberra and Brisbane, The Courier Mail reports. Patel, also dubbed as Doctor Death, was convicted of three counts of manslaughter and one case of grievous bodily harm, and sentenced to seven years in jail in June 2010 The convictions related to his tenure as a Bundaberg Base Hospital surgeon between March 2003 and April 2005. The Queensland Court of Appeal had earlier rejected Patel's appeal against his conviction.atel will apply for leave to appeal to the High Court on several grounds, including the trial judge Justice John Byrne incorrectly interpreted the legislation under which the crown ran its case. The high court application has a significant importance for Patel as he is still facing eight charges of fraud and attempted fraud in relation to gaining employment at the hospital.
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Ind-American jailed for 20 yrs for money laundering January 23, 2012 06:12
An Indian-American entrepreneur has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for using his perfume distribution business to launder millions of dollars for Mexican drug cartels. 51-year-old Vikram Datta, who was found guilty in September last year on money-laundering charges, was sentenced in Manhattan federal court here. "Datta used his perfume business to remove the stench from Mexican drug cartel money, and now he will pay a steep price for his crimes," Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara said. She said the "sentence should make anyone think twice about getting into business with narcotics traffickers." Datta owned multiple retail perfume stores on the US-Mexico border and sold significant amounts of perfume to Mexican purchasers. As payment, he accepted millions of dollars in cash that had been generated from drug sales in the US. According to trial evidence, Mexican money exchange businesses purchased these "narco dollars" in exchange for Mexican pesos. The narco dollars were transported back into the US and used to purchase perfume at businesses, including Datta`s, located in Laredo, Texas.
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India ranks 72 in 'global educational survey' January 23, 2012 05:57
School students celebrate after checking their CBSE results. A global survey has found that the average 15-year-old Indian is over 200 points behind the global topper. MUMBAI: Across the world, India is seen as an…
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NRIs to get right to vote in Indian elections: PM January 11, 2012 04:01
Fulfilling a long-standing demand of its diaspora, India on Sunday said it would allow NRIs to vote and participate in the election process. "Pursuant to the law that was enacted to enable Non-resident Indians to vote in our national elections, the government has issued notifications for registration of overseas electors under the Representation of People Act, 1950," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said. "This constitutes the first major step to enable Indian residents abroad to participate in our election process," the prime minister said while addressing the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas diaspora meet here. He said the diaspora plays an important role in the growth and development of the country. The government recognises it, and was committed to address their concerns and fulfil their demands. "The government and people of India recognise and value the important role being played by Indian communities living abroad. We believe that Indian diaspora has much more to contribute to the building of modern India," the prime minister said. "We propose to facilitate, encourage and promote this engagement. Over the past year, we have taken a number of steps towards this end," he added, as he formally inaugurated the 10th annual diaspora meet, the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) here. Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said NRIs would be able to exercise their franchise in upcoming elections. "Indian nationals living abroad can now exercise their franchise in India at the time o f the elections," Ravi said. Now those NRIs who have registered with the embassies of their respective countries of stay, would be eligible to vote in the upcoming assembly elections in five states including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur. Polls will take place in these countries between Jan 28 and March 3. Ravi said objective of the government was to further increase engagements with diaspora. "Our objective is to raise the level of engagement to go beyond mere investment related issues and address a broader agenda." "We believe that this will provide the vast majority of you the opportunity to benefit from as well as contribute - each in your own way - to India's development story," the minister said. Later talking to media person, Ravi said this year's Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is the largest congregation of Indian diaspora. He said almost 1,900 delegates from around 60 countries were participating in the three-day event.
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Involve overseas Indians as partners: President Pratibha Patil January 10, 2012 04:50
President Pratibha Patil on Monday said the country would continue supporting overseas Indians and encourage greater exchanges among the communities living abroad. In the present times of economic uncertainty and profound change in the world, the country would actively involve overseas Indians as partners in the development and progress of the nation, she said addressing the valedictory session of the 10 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas here. Addressing a packed B.M. Birla Auditorium in the presence of Trinidad & Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar, Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, Rajasthan's acting Governor Shivraj Patil and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, the President said the overseas Indians were becoming influential in the economic and political fields of the countries of their residence. They could play a key role in taking forward India's interests as well, she added. The President said health, education and skill development would continue to remain the priority areas in the strategy of inclusive development in the 12th Plan. She said the Government would spend adequate resources to ensure maximum efficiency in these identified focus areas. The Government also should ensure that the resources were spent to achieve maximum efficiency in terms of outcome. “We need to harness private investment in these areas,” she added. Ms. Patil, who talked about a sustainable future, said the Overseas Indians could play a decisive role in it with the knowledge they have gained in various fields. She underlined the role of linking the younger generation with the country of their forefathers. “We must continue to promote greater exchanges between the youth as an important aspect of forging linkages and maintaining the tradition of close bonds.” Ms. Bissessar, the chief guest at the function, was the first one to be called out to receive the “Pravasi Bharatiya Samman” awards along with 14 others. Dressed in colourful Rajasthani attire to suit the occasion, she demurely touched the feet of Ms. Patil in the true Bharatiya style to make it the high point of the three-day function. Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Bissessar said the only passport out of poverty to a better life was education, which was a priority among Indians. She added that the Indian values helped the diaspora during the good and not so good times. “We believe in our potential. We have not allowed anything to put us down,” she said about the undying spirit of the Overseas Indian. Complimenting India, she said the country has become truly global. The cultural and economic power house that India is today impacts the lives of people beyond its borders. She concluded by urging the young diaspora to participate in the PBD with enthusiasm. She cited the words of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asking to build bridges of communication and ended saluting the Mahatma. “A small body of spirit fired by unquenchable faith in a mission can alter the course of history,” she added. The President gave away the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards also to P. V Radhakrishna Pillai (Bahrain) for his outstanding contribution to the Indian community; Sachchidanand Sahai (Cambodia) for his scholarly work, and for his role in fostering relation between India and Canada; Deepak Naraindas Shivdasani (Cote D'Ivoire) for promoting India in Africa; and Victor Shahed Smetacek (Germany) for his outstanding contributions in the field of science. Awards were given for furthering the interests of the Indian communities abroad to Sri Prakash Lohia (Indonesia), Jose Parayanken (Mozambique), Kiran Navinchandra Aher (Oman), Hassan Abdulkarim Chougule (Qatar) Khorshed Noshir Ginwala-Rustomjee (South Africa), Rajesh Kumar Saraiya (Ukraine) and Surendra Kumar Kaushik (US) for his contributions in the field of economics. Kalpalatha Kummamuri Guntupalli (US), who spoke on behalf of all the awardees, was honoured for her contributions in the field of medicine. Also awarded in absentia was S.R. Nathan, former President of Singapore, for his contributions in the field of public service. Referring to the theme, “Global Indians -- Inclusive Growth”, Vayalar Ravi, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, said the diaspora could play a very constructive role in the inclusive growth agenda of the Government.
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President Pratibha Patil will give Pravasi Bhartiya Samman on Monday January 09, 2012 04:33
President Pratibha Patil will grace the closing ceremony of PBD on Monday. According ot the official sources Pratibha Patil will be in Rajasthan on a 2 day visit. The President will be reaching Jaipur in the afternoon and at the evening around 5 she will be participating in the closing ceremony of Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas 2012 in Birla Auditorium. She will also honour 12 NRI’s with Pravasi Bhartiya Samman for their outstanding achievements and contribution. On Tuesday Pratibha Patil will start from Jaipur for Rajsamand where she will be inaugurating the statue of Marana Pratap and will also give green signal to the rally of ex-army men in Diver village. The President will also visit the statue of Maharana Pratap in Udaipur’s Bandoli village and in the evening she will go back to Delhi.
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Indian economy to grow at 9% - 10% in medium term: Manmohan January 09, 2012 07:54
While India’s growth has been impacted by the global slowdown, given the strong economic fundamentals of the Indian economy the effort is to bring the economy back to 9-10% growth in the medium term, said Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India in his Inaugural Address at the 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) 2012. The event has been jointly organized by Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (Government of India), Government of Rajasthan and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) from 7-9 January at Jaipur. He added that efforts to tackle inflation are producing results. Expressing his appreciation for the contributions made by the Indian community living abroad, he highlighted some of the Government initiatives for the diaspora. On their long pending demand for participation in the country’s election process, Dr Singh informed that the Government has issued notifications for registering NRIs under the Representation of People Act, 1950. This is a first major step to enable Indian residents abroad to participate in the election process, he added. He further highlighted the introduction of a Bill to merge People of Indian Origin and Overseas Citizen of India schemes by amending the Citizenship Act. He elaborated that this would rectify the anomalies in the schemes and also provide for Overseas Indian Cards to foreign spouses as well. Sharing the measures taken to ensure the safety and well being of Indian workers abroad, Dr Singh said that the Government has decided to introduce and sponsor a new Pension and Life Insurance Fund which will provide social security benefits and a low-cost life insurance cover against natural death. He elaborated on the expansion of the Labour Mobility Partnership Agreements to cover students, academic and professionals as well. Such agreements are also being negotiated with Netherlands, France, Australia and the EU as well, he added. Dr Singh complimented the Government of Rajasthan on its proposal to build a Pravasi Bhartiya Bhawan at Jaipur, which will also house the offices of Protector of Emigrants and Migrant Resource Center. Prime Minister also launched the website of India Development Foundation of Overseas Indians (IDFOI), a trust under the aegis of MOIA providing a credible window for Overseas Indian Philanthropy for India’s social development. He also released a OIFC– MOIA publication “Returning Indians - All you need to know”.
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Need to increase the share of healthcare in GDP to 2.5% from 1.0% : Ghulam Nabi Azad January 09, 2012 07:11
There is a need to increase the share of healthcare in GDP to 2.5% from present level of 1.0%, said Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Government of India in his inaugural Address at the Seminar on “Health and Wellness : Partnering with the Diaspora”. The seminar is being held as part of the 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) 2012 organized jointly by Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (Government of India), Government of Rajasthan and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) at Jaipur. Mr Azad acknowledged the role played by Indian diaspora in the global healthcare industry and requested their meaningful contribution for improving the health indicators in the country. Government is contemplating on allowing diaspora practitioners having Post Graduate degrees from USA, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to practice in India, he added. He also solicited their views, inputs and suggestions to improve the healthcare system in the nation. Highlighting the shortage of skilled manpower in the Indian healthcare system, Mr Azad pointed out paradoxical situation in the country, wherein there is a surplus of about 5 lakh qualified practitioners in Indian system of medicine and shortage of about 7 lakh doctors in allopath stream. To address this situation, the Government has undertaken taken policy reforms to encourage capacity building in medical institutions. These include rationalization of land use for setting medical institutions, placing FDI in healthcare under automatic approval route, and increasing the faculty student ratio in PG Medical Colleges to 1 : 2 from 1 : 1. Mr T K A Nair, Advisor to Prime Minister of India said that focus of Government of India is to provide accessible and quality healthcare systems to vulnerable and weaker sections of the society and to increase the base of qualified medical practitioners. He urged support of Indian diaspora in promoting India as a hub of innovation, qualified medical experts, and R & D to make the country a great soft power. There is need for exchange of medical professionals among countries, he opined. Mr P K Pradhan, Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India talked about the diversity in health indicators across the States and also across districts. There is a need to relook at the system of delivery of quality healthcare services with active participation from the local bodies and communities, he said. Dr Hemant G Patel, Past President – AAPI, called for increased public funding in healthcare. Currently more than three quarters of healthcare expenditure is paid privately with high out of pocket expenses. The growth of the Indian economy will be in jeopardy if preventive and remedial measures are not taken to improve the health of its growing population. Risks posed by rapidly spreading Non Communicable Diseases like cancer, diabetes, cardio vascular diseases is indeed great, he elaborated. The Seminar comprised of Sessions on ‘Wellness and Welfare : Inclusive Growth in the Health Sector’ and ‘Investment in Health Sector’.
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Biomass for Energy Security and Empowerment of Rural India January 09, 2012 06:58
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) 2012 organized jointly by Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (Government of India), Government of Rajasthan and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) at Jaipur saw an interesting session on “Enhancing Rural Energy Access”. The Session focused primarily on outlining possible opportunities for NRIs to invest in solutions / initiatives to meet the basic energy requirements of rural India. Biomass was highlighted as the most promising solution. Biomass is expected to constitute almost 70% of household energy source as early as 2030. Its primary advantages include its abundant availability, its renewable nature, has a built in energy storage like fossil fuel and needs no conversion to produce energy. In addition rural communities have a high comfort level with it due to the familiarity with its raw material. The use of gas derived from gasification of biomass as a fuel is hampered by its lower energy density requiring larger flows of gas, but it is still the next best source of energy after electricity. The post-independence model of large centralized power generations systems have their limitations. De-centralised, local power generation systems managed by the community itself are the way forward. Even where rural electrification has been achieved, availability of power is still an issue as rural areas bear the brunt of the power shortages. The session was Chaired by Mr Deepak Gupta, Former Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Government of India. Mr K Krishan, Chairman, CII Task Force on Bio-Energy & Chairman, MPPPL Renewable Energy outlined the various modes available for NRIs to safely invest in various projects including rural electrification through due diligence provided by IDF, CII and CREWA The session also featured Technology and Business Model presentations on Rural Energy Projects. Dr B C Jain, MD, Ankur Scientific Energy Technologies supported the generation of power derived from biomass at the village level. He expressed that energy from biomass would generate employment, carbon credits and most of all would lead to empowerment of rural areas when connected to the grid. Mr Sanjay Kahzanchi, Consultant, Rockfeller Foundation, shared the unique features of the Smart Power for Environmentally Sound Economic Development (SPEED) programme, which supports the setting up of rural electrification projects through a unique business model. Environmental and social advantages of using pine needles as a biomass source were highlighted through a presentation by Mr Rajnish Jain, Avani. Mr Gyanesh Pandey, Co-Founder, CEO & CTO, Husk Power Systems outlined the models employed by his firm in Bihar with case study examples. Ms Swati Bhogle, Secretary, TIDE, Bangalore discussed the model specifically developed by her organization for research into smokeless Commercial Cook Stoves.
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