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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline MARCH 29, 2024 | The Indian Eye 22

AIA hosts inauguration ceremony of its

newly-elected National Executive Committee

The occasion was graced by the chief guest Consul General Binaya S. Pradhan

OUR BUREAU
New York, NY
obind Munjal, the National
President of The Association
Gof Indians in America (AIA),
was sworn-in once again for the 2nd
term 2024 & 2025 along with his Na-
tional Executive Committee in an
exciting Inauguration ceremony ar-
ranged at Metropolitan Caterers in
Glen Cove, Long Island on Saturday
March 16th, 2024. Since AIA is a Na-
tional organization, its out of State
Members attended the ceremony via
zoom.
The Association of Indians in
America (AIA) is the oldest not-for-
profit organization of Asian Indians
in America founded on August 20,
1967. It is the grassroots national or-
ganization of Asian immigrants in
United States. With chapters and
membership spread across the Unit-
ed States of America, AIA represents
the hopes and aspirations of those
immigrants who are united by their
common bond of Indian Heritage and
American Commitment.
The occasion was graced by the
chief guest Consul General Binaya S.
Pradhan. The Inauguration and Oath
ceremony was attended by about one
hundred attendees. This included
AIA founding members, board of
Trustees, AIA National Past Presi- Sushma Kotahwala (NY), Dr. Yash ments during his first term. The Pres- Programs to help both – the Youth
dents, chapter Presidents, community Pal Arya (NY), Santosh Pandey (IL), ident also shared his Vision for the and the Elderly. NEC pledges support
leaders, AIA members, friends, and Secretary Gunjan Rastogi (NY) and 2nd term. He reiterated that since to all the Chapter Presidents and its
the media partners. Treasurer Gobind Bathija (NY). He the elections are over now, we will all members, so they all can build and ex-
Chief Guest Consul General of also administered the oath to the work together as a unified team. pand on these programs across the na-
India in New York, Binaya S. Pradhan, members at large from all the states, In pursuing the AIA’s moto of tion. This way together, we can make
in his opening Remarks, praised AIA namely Anita Thakkar (NY), Arida- “Indian Heritage and American the next two years most productive.
for all that it has done for the com- man Jain (NJ), Beena Kothari (NY), Commitment”, he emphasized that: President Munjal also shared his
munity during its 56 years of history Indu Gajwani (NY), Jasbir Singh “We are here to serve the commu- initiative of working on the immigra-
and commended the organization for (NY), Manoranjan Mishra (IL), Mo- nity needs. As we continue to direct tion bill to reduce the time delay for
its various achievements. He also sug- hinder Taneja (NY). Neelam Modi our help to the people in India, our Indian citizens to get the green card
gested that if AIA could work on sup- (NY), OM Dhirgra (IL), Prem Meh- homeland, we should equally remain as well as H1 B visas. He said “AIA
porting the students coming from In- rotra (IL), Rajeev Chaudhary(NY), committed to the community right (NEC) is joining Gopio Internation-
dia to study here in the United States Ram Tirumala (NJ), Ramola Mot- here in the United States, our adopt- al and rallying some other organiza-
to get them internships and/or jobs, wani (FL), Salil Misra (IL), Santosh ed country. We hope to work towards tions to join us in this initiative. Today
that will be very helpful. Consul Gen- Khera (CA), Satish Anand (NY), increasing that commitment. it takes almost 15 to 20 years for an
eral however pledged to work with Sharmistha Dutta (FL), Shashi Malik As the demographic profile of Indian citizen to get a green card,
AIA for outreach to the community. (NY), Sujata Seth (NY), Uma Enia- the Indian American Community has whereas some other nationalities get
National President Gobind Mun- sivam (FL), Usha Bansal (NY), Vijay changed in past 5 decades since the a green card in 1 year. We all are plan-
jal was sworn-in by Honorable Con- Sharma (WI). founding of AIA, so are their needs. ning to go to Washington DC some-
sul General, Binaya Pradhan ji, who In his speech, National Presi- We remain committed to understand- time in the end of April 2024 to meet
also administered the oath to Vice dent Munjal welcomed everyone and ing the changing requirements of the the congressional leaders requesting
Presidents; Uma Swaminathan (NJ), shared some of the NEC’s achieve- community, and then will develop them to support this bill”

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