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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline JANUARY 15, 2021 | The Indian Eye 23

Pravasi Bharatiya samman

Past and present leaders of fia express gratitude

and reaffirm their commitment to community

< anil Bansal, President

e are very proud, humbled and thankful to the Government of India for bestowing the Prava-
si Bhartiya Samman award for 2020 on FIA. It is the recognition of the hard and selfless vol-
Wuntary work of so many people in the FIA family including hundreds of volunteers, member
organizations, past presidents and trustees who have generously supported our work to serve the
Indian American community in the Tri-state area and beyond for five decades.
This award is for the exceptional and meritorious contributions made by FIA members in creating
a positive image of India in USA, support and promote bilateral issues, and be an agent of change for
social and humanitarian causes here, in the USA and back in India.
We at FIA have been totally dedicated to serving in the interests of India and the Indian diaspora
in USA. Starting this year, we have and will continue to more for serving the poorest among us. This
year a new tradition of feeding hungry during Diwali was a big success. In future you will see more
of this kind of service from our FIA Team. This award certainly gives us the encouragement and
incentive to reach for the stars. We are very appreciative of this recognition and may God bless our
motherland India and our homeland, USA.

alOk kuMar, immediate Past President >

ongratulation to FIA and all the member organization for Pravasi Samman Award 2021 PBD
award. When I became president of organization. I had only thought that our seniors had put
Cso much effort to bring community together and shine the mother India in USA. I dreamt
about only one thing to make our community United and help stay connected. Let’s bring the culture
and heritage with proud of in our kids. India day parade is a true symbol and showcase of unity.

< ankur vaidya, chairman Board of trustees & Past President

t really is a matter of pride and honor that our organization and work has been recognized and
highlighted by this meaningful gesture and accolade from the Govt. of India. I am thankful to all
Iof the diplomats whom FIA has closely worked with and continues to do so in serving our commu-
nity while serving, shining, and enhancing the glory of our motherland. I hope that this recognition
enables FIA to elevate and unite our community and take on bigger and larger issues for our com-
munity and creating a unified power base in the USA for the betterment of our present and future
generations. FIA’s centerpiece of our mission vision and future goals will be to drastically elevate the
graph charts of the community’s reputations in the halls of power. Successful and thoughtful efforts,
support, and acknowledgment such as this recognition by the Govt. of India will tremendously aid us
to move faster in that direction. The fruits of the FIA efforts will be for our community and its mem-
bers to reap along with our motherland both of whom will be natural and automatic beneficiaries. I
urge the readers of The Indian EYE to work together to make our present strong and our future
stronger. May God bless our great nation of the USA, Bharat

diPak Patel, Past President >

had joined FIA in 1999 as a FIA member. I become President in 2009 and since then serving the
FIA. All executive members were under 50 age first time was important. Our vision was to trans-
I form to new and vibrant memberships. Today, we are marching on that foundation to achieve new
heights. I am proud to be part of Pravasi Samman by Indian Government.

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