Union Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, who is on a five-city US tour to popularise the upcoming Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in New Delhi, on Thursday urged the Indian American community here to lend their elping hand in developing the country.

Addressing a select gathering of eminent members of the community at the Indian Embassy here, the minister said their contribution could vary from building a small school in their village or sharing the knowledge back home.

The India Development Foundation for Overseas Indian, the US chapter of which is expected to be fully functional by next year, would provide a platform for the community to contribute towards their country, Ravi said.

The foundation was formed to facilitate NRIs in their philanthropic activities, including innovative projects and instruments, self help groups for economic empowerment of women, best practice interventions in primary education and technology interventions in rural health care delivery.

"The foundation will give opportunity to every overseas Indian to help in developing his or her village in every way," Ravi said, while urging the community to concentrate on three main issues education, health and women empowerment.

Global INK is being set up as an electronic platform for harnessing the knowledge and skills of the diaspora for the benefit of the country, Ravi said, adding the website is expected to be ready by the New Year.

"This is a knowledge bank," he said. The Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, who has so far visited Chicago, Denver and Houston, is now scheduled to visit New York later this week.

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