New Delhi: Representatives of an estimated 22 million Indians abroad spread over 110 countries will meet in New Delhi for the first time on January 9 to celebrate 'Pravasi Bharatiya Divas' which would be inaugurated by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpyaee.

On the occasion, ten eminent Non-Resident Indians (NRI) and People of Indian Origin (PIO) would be awarded 'Bharat Samman'. They would be chosen by a jury headed by Vice-President Bhairon Singh Sekhawat.

The decision to hold the Divas and present the awards was taken after the Prime Minister accepted the two recommendations made by a high-level committee on Indian diaspora headed by L M Singhvi, former Indian High Commissioner to the U K, earlier this year.

January 9 has been chosen for the occasion as it was on this day in 1915 that Mahatma Gandhi had returned to India from South Africa to lead the country's freedom struggle.

"It will be a red letter day for India's interface with the Indian diaspora. It will be to build bridges with the Indian diaspora," Singhvi told reporters after the first meeting of the Divas organising committee.

Representatives of NRIs and PIOs from 40 countries, including the US, the UK, Australia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Singapore, South Africa, the UAE and Uganda have already registered for the conference.

PTI