NRIs to adopt 500 villages

Washington, June 07: Non-resident Indians (NRIs) living in the US will adopt 500 villages in India as part of their effort to develop the rural areas of the county.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will give a keynote address at the event where some 1,000 NRI leaders will participate, the group said in the statement.

A formal announcement in this regard would be made during the Big Ideas for Better India conference in Silicon Valley on July 1.

These 500 villages have been selected based on highest farmer suicide rates, high unemployment rates and need for immediate support, OVBI President Satej Chaudhary said.

"We are bringing together geoscientists, agricultural experts and entrepreneurs to help double the income of farmers by 2022," Mr. Chaudhary said.