UP NRI Diwas: Villages up for adoption for foreign guests

Agra: NRI guests coming for Uttar Pradesh's first-ever NRI Diwas in early January will be taking responsibility of a particular village from a list provided and look after its development.

Officials said that those villages from Agra and other districts will be shortlisted which have potential to be good tourist destinations, have proper road connectivity, and are aware of sanitation and hygiene issues.

Two US presidents in the past adopted a couple of villages from the Agra district, which consequently showed a significant rise in developmental projects. Laramda was adopted by President Dwight D Eisenhower in 1959, while Bill Clinton picked up Barara in 2000.

The NRI Diwas will be conducted at a city hotel from January 4 to 6, 2016. Around 100 visitors from 25 countries are expected to take part in it.

"All efforts are being made to make it a grand and successful event," said additional district magistrate (protocol) Arun Kumar to TOI.

The event, which is to be inaugurated by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav will see the felicitation of 10 foreign guests for their commendable work.

A presentation would be made on the second day of the meet, highlighting the various schemes of the state government. Officials said that this would be done to encourage the NRIs to invest in the state.

For January 6, the last day of the meet, trips to tourist spots in the vicinity such as the Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri have been scheduled. (image:daanfoundation.org)