Overseas Indians have also been urged to invest in the remote north-eastern region of the country.

On Friday the January 7, 2011, the Union minister for human resources development, Kapil Sibal and the Union minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, Vayalar Ravi urged the participants at the seminar on diaspora and education to invest in the education sector in the country.

The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh is expected to formally inaugurate the conclave of Overseas Indians on January 8. The theme of the conclave is – Engaging the Global Indians.

More than 50% of Indians fall in the age bracket of 25 and below and to reap the advantages of a young populace, it is essential to have adequately high levels of quality education. India’s gross enrollment ratio (GER) in higher education stands at a mere 11% compared to a global standard of close to 25%. According to estimates India needs an investment of $100 billion with a view to increase the GER in higher education to at least 21% by 2018. As education has become the fourth largest area of consumer spending in India, the scope for investment in education in the country is immense.

Advisor to the Prime Minister, Sam Pitroda, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University, Prof KR Srivathsan, Principal Director of Symbiosis, Dr Vidya Yeravdekar and Chairman, OLPC-India, Satish Jha also urged the overseas Indians to to investment in education.

The Overseas Indians can also help by contributing resources, expertise and technologies in the field of primary and secondary education. Under the Right to Education Act, India is committed to providing both free and compulsory education to every child in the group of 6 to 14 years. While the Act does not prevent parents from sending children to fee-charging private schools, even the private schools are mandated to reserve 25% seats for the poor and provide them free education.

In the area of healthcare the Union minister of state for health and family welfare, Dinesh Trivedi urged the Overseas Indians to invest in this sector.

Indian healthcare industry is growing at a rapid pace and is expected to become a $280 billion industry by 2020. Rising income levels and a growing elderly population are factors that are driving this growth. In addition, changing demographics, disease profiles and the shift from chronic to lifestyle diseases in the country will lead to increased spending on healthcare delivery.

India is following the public-private partnership (PPP) model to meet the fast growing demand for healthcare. PPP mode for investment in healthcare, management of public hospitals, health insurance, IT services, supply chain management and integrative primary healthcare is being proposed.

Product and service innovations are needed to maximize quality healthcare access at an affordable price point. Public healthcare infrastructure will drive a strong demand for medical technology, pharmaceuticals and IT which are potential areas of engagement for the Indian disapora. A variety of economic and immigration policies are in place to facilitate Overseas Indians resources to India. New hospitals and high tech medical centres including seven new AIMS may provide opportunities for recruitment of Overseas Indian physicians.

The Indian Parliament has passed the bill on voting rights of non-resident Indians and this has been translated into an Act. The government already had two rounds of discussion with the Election Commission on procedures for enrolment and methods of voting. When the process of implementation is completed it will give voting rights to around 10 million Overseas Indians, who have Indian Passports.

Around 1300 delegates have registered for PBD-2011 so far from across the world.