'Pravasi show short on josh'

Aparna Nambiar / TNN / Jan 9, 2006, 12:08 IST

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The event was characterised by lack of focus, vision, enthusiasm and coordination.

CYBERABAD: After the highprofile inauguration of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2006 in Hyderabad on Saturday, the NRI delegates had their say on the second day.
Sitting at the main lobby of the nowdeserted Hyderabad International Convention Centre, they cried: "Why is nobody listening to us?," and told a receptive media what they felt about the annual jamboree now in its fourth year.
The event was characterised by lack of focus, vision, enthusiasm and coordination. Many important issues did not receive adequate representation.
Subjects like IT, banking, medicine and agriculture were well covered but upcoming fields like bio-informatics and aviation were not covered, was the general consensus.

"Ministers came, spoke and went away. They were least bothered as to how we felt about the issues. We did not come here to listen to boring speeches in Hindi, we were here to exchange ideas.
Think-tanks of delegates could have been formed who could have explained and given valuable suggestions as to how a certain goal could be achieved," said Denis L Menezes, MD of Norcomms Ltd, a shipping company in Singapore.
Dr S Venugopal, general physician and member of General Medical Council, UK, felt there is an urgent need to address the issue of NRIs' participation in the Indian government.

"Organisations should be formed at the state level and at the Centre. But is anyone actually listening?" The delegates then proceeded to give suggestions as to how the annual event could be improved.
"For instance, choice of personalities and speakers makes a huge difference," said one. Delegates who attended the previous PBD events held at Mumbai and Delhi observed that diversity was missing this time.
"It is very critical to include the perspectives of experts from various fields in these kind of programmes as they concentrate on future-based issues.
That makes the entire programme highly engaging," said Narender Pati, member of Aum Ayurveda and Yoga, Inc, California. Hyderabadis too were not spared.
"I have attended all the previous PBD events. I guess there is no josh in people out here. In other places, even the locals get very excited and are ready to help you. Though the people here are very courteous, that josh element is missing," said U M Pandit, Deputy Manager of Industrial Exhibition Bureau, Gujarat.
Some others complained that the sessions were not coordinated properly as they had to miss some events because they were 'busy' in registration. There was confusion on the first day as the information kits were not available.
"No one had an idea as to which session was being held where, and sudden venue changes too left many irritated," said a delegate. For still others, it were the matters of food.
"At 73, I find it very difficult to walk all the way to the dining hall. Why has the lunch been organised outside the main building and no seating arrangements been made for senior citizens like me in the dining hall?
I did not expect it would be this bad," said Dr Venugopal.

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