By IANS
New Delhi : Indian American astronaut Sunita Williams and Lord Karan Bilimoria of Britain are among 13 overseas Indians to be conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards at the conclave for the Indian diaspora here Wednesday.
President Pratibha Patil will present the awards during the valedictory session of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), the two-day annual conference and exhibition where India seeks to connect with its 25 million diaspora in 130 countries.
Last year, Williams had set a new women’s space walking record during the course of her 195-day stay in space.
Apart from Williams and Bilimoria, the founder of Cobra beer and member of the Britain’s House of Lords, this year’s list includes Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Rangoolam, who is also the chief guest at the conclave, it is reliably learnt.
Introduced in 2003, the awards recognise the achievements of overseas Indians, their contributions towards strengthening India’s relations with other countries and for fostering New Delhi’s prestige and interests abroad.
Recipients of this annual award are selected by a jury-cum-awards committee chaired by the vice president.