By: Shivanie Mangal
It’s a birthright and it’s a secret that has been kept from us. As an Indo-Caribbean person of Indian origin, you can travel and visit India for FREE. It’s called the Know India Program for Young Overseas Indians. It is sponsored and paid for by the Government of India. The Ministry of External Affairs of India just celebrated 20 years of the programme that started in 2003. It is also the longest running diaspora engagement program from India.
The Know India Program or KIP as its commonly called is a 21 days' programme (excluding international travel) during which the participant will visit Delhi, Agra and a select state in the motherland of India. KIP aims to foster connections between and among diaspora youth and our ancestral homeland. This three-week programme gives you exposure to India’s history and cultural heritage and a viewpoint on modern India. This is your birthright to go back to the place our ancestors came from. The best news is – they have a manual that shows you how to apply for the programme, laid out by steps – super easy.
The requirements of the program:
Open to youth in the age group of 21-30 years.
You have to be a Person of Indian Origin (PIO).
Be able to provide some evidence that you are a person of Indian origin such as immigration records, person of Indian origin card of parents, grandparents or great grandparents.
Have never been to India.
Graduated from a recognized university.
Speaks English.
Preferences are usually given to applicants from Girmitiya (Bhojpur) countries: those where Indians were taken as indentured labourers to work in European's sugarcane fields or for Europeans farms. These include Fiji, the Caribbean islands, Mauritius, Re-union Island, Seychelles, Guyana, and Suriname. Girmitiya is also known as Jahajis. A quick perusal of the web and KIP is advertised throughout the world in every continent. A notice is usually advertised on the website of Indian consulates across the globe.
Why free:
Return air tickets (economy), with participants bearing 10% of the cost of airfare.
Local hospitality e.g., boarding/lodging in budget hotels (on twin sharing basis).
Transportation during the programme, including airport transfers.
All meals.
Gratis visa.
My sister who resides in Guyana was accepted into the program in 2019 and experienced some unique benefits. She returned with beautiful gift such as books, materials, and memories to treasure for a lifetime. Some of these include:
Presentations on India and its polity, economy, history, culture etc.
Visits to institutes of democracy and governance.
Call on high dignitaries.
Visit to places of historical & cultural importance – she went to the Taj Mahal!
Cultural events showcasing classical forms of music and dance.
Visits to institutions of traditional knowledge system like Yoga and Ayurveda.
Exposure to Indian Media and Broadcasting industry.
Visit to leading Scientific and Research Institutions.
Immersion programme along with interaction with faculty and students at a prestigious University/College/Institute.
Visit to industrial sites, public and private firms to showcase India’s strength in Manufacturing & Services sector.
Exposure to Govt. of India schemes like Skill India, Digital India, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, StartUp India.
This is a special program. I often wonder why only such a select few know about it. I mean, this is the kind of program that you need if you are in doubt of who you are or having an identity crisis. Maybe simply a need to connect to the motherland. A special place, with the opportunity to meet other folks like us in the diaspora. A chance to discuss our uniqueness, challenges, successes, and future as well as creating and fostering a share experience of friendship and kinship.
This programme has been around for twenty (20) years and only in the last five years has it come to my attention. There are other birthright programs such as KIP for other nationalities such as Birthright Israel (for a heritage trip to Israel). As I recall, when I found out about Birthright Israel, I thought that was so unique. I had never imagined that we as indo-caribbean people have our own. It was more than a decade later that I would find out about KIP – our very own birthright heritage trip to see and experience the motherland of India. A paid opportunity for enlightment of the place our ancestors called home more than two hundred years ago. My wish is that everyone that reads this piece and meets the criteria – apply to the KIP. You may have to keep an eye out for the deadlines for applications and periods of admissions throughout the year.
How to Apply:
Make sure you meet the eligibility criteria.
Carve out the time necessary to attend the full duration of the programme if accepted – remember it is a three (3) weeks commitment excluding getting to India from your country of residence.
Be able to purchase international travel and medical insurance.
Create an account on the KIP website.
Apply using this link: Know India Programme: https://kip.gov.in/
See you at the next KIP in India!
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