Bhubaneswar: Odisha Government is hosting 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas(PBD) to be held at Janata Maidan, Bhubaneswar from 8-10 January. While meetings and actions are being taken at various stages to organize this triennial program in a smooth and attractive manner, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja reviewed the progress in this regard.
Additional Chief Secretary Home, Satyabrata Sahu, who is the Chairman of the Executive Committee of PBD outlined the details.
Development Commissioner, Anu Garg, Director General of Police, YB Khurania, Principal Secretaries and Commissioners and Secretaries of the concerned departments were present.
The Department of Industries informed about the progress of work on the VVIP Guests, Overseas Indians, Local Spectators, Vehicle Parking, Food arrangements for Overseas Indians and related preparations, presentation of plans and approvals at the event venue.
The Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department has finalized who will participate in the cultural programs on various days of Overseas Indian Day. Rajarani Music Festival, Mukteswar Dance Festival, International Odissi Dance Festival and Pushpa Exhibition will be held at Ekamra Kanan from January 7 to 11.
The program has been scheduled to include a cultural fusion dance performance on January 8, tribal fair from January 5 to 15, Chilika Pakshi festival from January 6 to 12, food fair from January 8 to 10, street festival and night flea market. On this occasion, an Odisha theme pavilion based on the glory of Odisha from ancient to modern (Glorious Odisha from Ancient to Modern) will be organized. Preparations are underway for its format.
On the first day, Yuva Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be held on January 8, the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Conference on January 9 and the last day, the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award ceremony along with the closing day will be held on January 10. The State Information and Public Relations Department has prepared a media plan for the promotion of the program and necessary proposals have been made.
Beautification work is underway on 55 roads identified for this event in the city. Preparations are underway for traffic control, safety and security arrangements. In view of the guests, overseas Indians and officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs attending the conference, rooms have been booked in various hotels and registration is underway on behalf of overseas Indians who are going to attend. Discussions were held on how to make arrangements so that maximum overseas Indians can attend the conference. Overseas Odia institutions in various countries have been informed to participate in the overseas Indian conference.
Since overseas Indians are going to visit various tourist places in Odisha, preparations are underway on behalf of the Tourism Department for the beautification of 28 tourist places, especially in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri. In addition, since Overseas Indians are likely to visit some other tourist places in the state, it was discussed to pay attention to the beautification, cleanliness, etc. of all those places.
In the context of the movement of migrants, the Commerce and Transport Department presented the related preparations for this at the Bhubaneswar airport. It was discussed that the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department is preparing to organize an exhibition at the designated place in the 40 exhibition stalls identified for Odisha in the exhibition to be organized. The Department of Antiquities is continuing the beautification work of the State Museum, Rabindra Mandap, Bhanja Kala Mandap, Harekrushna Mahatab State Library, Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya campus and steps have been taken for the improvement of various roads connecting Bhubaneswar, Puri, Konark, Chilika.