17 NRIs awarded

Seventeen eminent NRIs, including Hong Kong-based Rusy M Shroff and US-based Dr Sudhir Parikh, were today honoured with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman for promoting India in their adopted countries. President A P J Abdul Kalam presented the award during valedictory function of the Parvasi Bhartiya Divas 2006 here.

Other prominent NRIs who got the award included Jean-Paul Virapoulle, a French Senator and Mayor of Saint Andre Reunion Island, for his efforts to promote relations between India and the island in culture and economy. 8212;PTI