Monday, October 9, 2000		Article

Gujarati diaspora on Web

SThe Vishwa Gujarati Samaj, a cultural organisation of people of Gujarati origin, is tapping the World Wide Web to revitalise the community’s linkages through its Web site www.evishwagujarati.net.

The idea is to provide a platform for the Gujarati diaspora to interact with each other and link up their lives, strengthen their shared heritage, deal with the problems of living in foreign countries, conduct business together and maintain stronger links with Gujarat, VGS president Krishnakant Vakharia said.

More than a million persons of Gujarati origin live abroad. "The site will also offer a range of services to Gujaratis wherever they live," he said. The site focuses broadly on four categories: a roundup of events pertaining to Gujarat and Gujaratis world wide, the Samaj’s formidable network spanning continents, culture and interaction and a Gujarat fact file.

The VGS has tied up with the Ahmedabad-based Jupiter Infosoft Ltd to develop and maintain the site. To sustain this, the samaj will charge a fee of Rs 4,400 per annum and for membership of "Vishwa Gujarati Samaj Online," which will give one access to the site and its services.

"We want to build a corpus of funds for development and welfare of Gujarati people, and give facilities and services worldwide. Whether this involves building guesthouses, starting schools, rendering legal and other help or providing drought relief — we want to maintain our independence. The fees will help achieve that," Vakharia said.

— IANS