PM proposes university, Employment Council for PIOs

New Delhi, Jan 7 (UNI) Hailing the role played by the NRIs in the growth of the country of their origin, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today announced that the government was seriously considering proposals to establish a university for Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), a Central Council for the Promotion of Overseas Employment and an Indian Overseas Facilitation Centre.

Inaugurating the 5th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) here, Dr Singh called for an inteense interaction between overseas Indians and the people of India to inspire Indians at home to take a broader view of the world.

The three-day celebrations are being attended by nearly 1200 prominent PIOs from about 50 countries, including the US, Britain, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada and the Gulf states.

Reminding the impressive gathering that he had proposed to establish a university for PIOs at the last year's edition of the conclave, Dr Singh said the proposal had been under active consideration of the government.

''We envisage the proposed university as oriented to meeting the needs of the overseas Indian community in the most sought after disciplines, including Engineering and Management. Our aspiration would be to impart quality education at par with the best universities in the world.'' The challenge, he said, now was to create the requisite enabling framework that would adequately meet these aspirations.

''We hope to do this in coming months,'' he said, exuding confidence.

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