11	The Honourable Jim Karygiannis, Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Agincourt, was here in India to attend the Bharat Pravasi Divas (NRI conference) attended by NRIs from all over the world which was held in early January 2008 at New Delhi. At a meeting with the Chief Minister of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal he outlined the important role of the Indian Diaspora in Canada-India relations. The Chief Minister spoke in terms of strengthening the economy of the state through bilateral trade and Canadian investment, with the involvement of Non-Resident Indians (NRI).

Mr. Karygiannis' meeting with the Chief Minister covered a wide range of international issues including, seniors pensions' and the current situation in Pakistan.

A positive step was taken by two members of the South Asian Diaspora wherein a senior's assistance program was started involving the distribution of 500 rupees a month to senior citizens in a village of a region of the state. This move was undertaken as the seniors in Punjab were presently not receiving government old-age pension which was a much-needed benefit.

By introducing this private initiative, Kargiannis encouraged the minister to consider a government pension program for the State and also asked him to consider pressing the central government to establish a national senior's pension plan. Mr. Karygiannis mentioned that signalling such a step would work towards creating an India-Canada agreement on pension benefits.

He addressed the School of International Studies of Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi where he sketched a brief outline of the contribuitons made by the Indian Diaspora in Canada in Canadian society and politics from the days when the first East Indians set foot on Canada's West Coast during the end of the nineteenth century.