22-Jan-2019: PM launches Pravasi Teerth Darshan Yojana

Pravasi Teerth Darshan Yojana (PTDY) was introduced in FY 2018-19 for elderly generation of PIOs between the age group of 45-65 years from 07 Girmitiya countries (Fiji, Guyana, Mauritius, South Africa, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Reunion Island).

The Scheme is aimed towards providing the PIOs an opportunity to reconnect with their Indian roots through a sponsored pilgrimage tour across India. The programme is targeted at those PIOs in Girmitiya countries who belong to lower income group and are unable to afford a visit to India. It is a 17 days programme which has conducted in coordination with Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. (IRCTC).

So far, 04 editions of PTDY have been conducted with the participation of 160 PIOs, 40 in each group.

The entire process for applying, processing etc. is through a Portal https://kip.gov.in.

Who are Girmityas?

Girmityas or Jahajis are descendants of indentured Indian labourers brought to Fiji, Mauritius, South Africa, East Africa, the Malay Peninsula, Caribbean and South America (Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Suriname) to work on sugarcane plantations for the prosperity of the European settlers and save the Fijians from having to work on these plantations and thus to preserve their culture.

The term Girmitiya was coined by Mahatma Gandhi who referred to himself as first Girmitiya. The countries where these indentured Indian labourers settled are known as Girmitiya countries.