Thomas Abraham gets Pride of PIO award

New Delhi, Jan 4 (UNI) Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) founder chairman Dr Thomas Abraham was today conferred the third ''Pride of PIO'' award.

Former Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat presented the award, instituted by Antar Rashtriya Sahayog Nyas (Foundation for International Cooperation), to Dr Abraham.

The award carries Rs one lakh in cash, a shawl and a memento.

Later addressing the function, Mr Shekhawat said the Indian Diaspora was playing an important role in diverse fields of information technology, medicine and education.

''They can make valuable contribution in fields such as biotechnology, space research, energy and water resource management to realise vision 2020 of a developed India.

Indians are foremost in remitting money back home, repatriating more than 25 billion dollars every year,'' he added.

The former Vice President said India with its great civilization and glorious traditions has been a world teacher and the time was not far when its supremacy would be reasserted as a knowledge-based society.

Mr Shekhawat lauded Dr Abraham's contribution in the PIO-NRI movement, saying this award would further motivate him and GOPIO to continue taking up issues related to the development of Indian Diaspora.

The earlier awardees have been Ranjit Ram Narain of South Africa and Sat Maharaj of Trinidad and Tobago.

UNI XC PDT KP2002