Three-day National Webinar on "Indian Diaspora, Migration and Development" inaugurated at SRU
Raipur, August 28, 2024: Shri Rawatpura Sarkar University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh successfully inaugurated the three-day National Webinar on "Indian Diaspora, Migration and Development: A Multifaceted" webinar. The webinar will commence on August 20, 2024 and continue for three days respectively. This important event was organized online through Google Meet, this webinar is being organized jointly by the Department of Geography and Department of Journalism and Mass Commu
nication.
The webinar was inaugurated by Vice Chancellor Prof. S.K. Singh, Registrar Dr. Saurabh Kumar Sharma and Dean of Arts Faculty Prof. (Dr.) Manish K. Pandey. On this occasion, Prof. S., Founding Chairman of KNOMAD and IIMAD; Former Professor of Centre for Development Studies (CDS), Kerala was present as the Chief Guest. Irudaya Rajan, and Special Guest & Key Note Speaker Prof. (Dr.) Naresh Kumar, Chairman, Centre for Diaspora Studies, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The coordinators of the webinar, Dr. Sunita Sonwani and Dr. Santosh Kumar played a key role in bringing together a diverse group of scholars, experts and researchers from across the country on one platform. Introducing the topic, Dr. Santosh said that about 100 high quality research papers have been received studying various dimensions of Indian diaspora, migration and development, which will help in a deeper understanding of these subjects. Around 150 participants are participating in this webinar.
Prof. Rajan in his keynote address spoke about the vast potential of Indian diaspora, which is still largely untapped. He emphasized the need for schemes like Diaspora Fellowship to better utilize diaspora potential for India's development. He said that the Indian diaspora is a very large and influential sector, but a lot still needs to be done to engage this community more effectively.
Prof. In his address, Prof. (Dr) Naresh Kumar discussed the global impacts of migration, drawing connections between the Indian diaspora and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and pointed out that diaspora communities, particularly in Gujarat, have had a positive impact on both local and global development. Dr Kumar’s insights helped in understanding how different patterns of migration contribute to the broader Sustainable Development Goals.
Vice Chancellor, Prof. S.K. Singh presented an in-depth overview of the contribution of the diaspora to India’s development. He underscored the importance of recognising and leveraging the potential of the diaspora to boost economic and social development. Registrar, Dr. Saurabh Kumar Sharma further elaborated on the significance of the diaspora, and emphasised the need for a strategic approach to incorporate the Indian diaspora in national development efforts.
The webinar provided a platform for the participants to engage in scholarly discussions on the varied contributions of the Indian diaspora to global development. The topics ranged from efforts of diaspora communities to preserve culture to the economic impact of remittances. The discussions highlighted the multifaceted nature of the contributions of the diaspora and the need for continued research and participation in this area.
At the conclusion of the inaugural session, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Dr. Manish Kumar Pandey expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all the participants, speakers, university leadership and staff who helped make the webinar a success. Dr. Naresh Gautam, Dr. Anjali Yadav, Ms. Manisha Bose, Dr. Avadheshwari Bhagat, Dr. Pushpa Bharti, Dr. Archana Tupat, Dr. Chitra Pandey, Dr. Sujata Ghosh, Dr. Rashi, Dr. Kewal Ram Chakradhari, Dr. Payal, Mrs. Sadhana Dewangan, Ms. Sampriti Bhattacharya, Mr. Shishir Chandra Chhatar, Mr. Niranjan Kumar etc. were also present on this important occasion.
In the technical session of the second session, the participants discussed the various contributions of the diaspora in global development in their research papers. The participants expressed their views on the need for research and participation related to the diaspora. This three-day webinar will provide important insights on the role of the Indian diaspora in shaping global migration and promoting development in various sectors. The event was highly appreciated by Shri Harsh Gautam, Pro-Chancellor of the University and blessed by Ananta Vibhushit Shri Ravi Shankar Ji Maharaj, Chancellor of the University.