Chairman of the Board of Vinod Patel Group, Vinod Patel, has been awarded with a prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) from the Indian Government.

This is for his commitment in philanthropy and social services.

The 78-year-old Ba based founder of Vinod Patel Group is amongst 30 recipients who have been honoured with the award in Bengalore, India.

In receiving, the award Mr Patel said: “I’m grateful for this recognition which truly belongs to all the hardworking community members who supported my effort to make a small positive difference in people’s life.

“I have been fortunate to receive overwhelming support from many friends and family members and many charitable organisations.

“These organisations include Red Cross of Fiji, Sanathan Dharam, the Gujarat Association and from many other social organisations from Ba. “Therefore, I truly feel whilst I have been awarded this recognition it is bestowed to many hundreds of people who supported in my social service journey.

“I thank my wife for her support and all my children and family who stood by me all the times. Finally this is an award for all the Indian origin diaspora community of Fiji – God bless Fiji!”

The award is the highest honour conferred on overseas Indians.

It is conferred by the President of India as a part of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Conventions.

These conventions have been organised annually since 2003 for non-resident Indians, Persons of Indian Origin or an organisation or institution established and run by the Non-Resident Indians or Persons of Indian Origin.

This also includes the recognition of their outstanding achievements both in India and abroad.

This was the 14th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention held from 7 to 9 of this month.

Background and Achievement :

Mr Patel has given remarkable service to the Town of Ba as a Councillor and Mayor and to the country of Fiji as an elected Member of Parliament on two occasions.

Despite a busy schedule, Mr Patel has immensely contributed his service in the field of education, sports, religion, community health, local and national Governments and in community.

His contribution to education in Fiji and India is legendary.

He has been the manager, president of A.D Patel College & Tagore Memorial School and a member of the Ba Gujurat Education Society.

Not only in Fiji, Vinod Patel fondly known as Vinodbhai and his family have built and funded a village school for Boys and Girls in their father’s village of Karkhadi near Vadodara, Gujarat.

This school is in the name of their parents Shankarbhai and Shantaben Patel.

His contribution to the field of sports especially in soccer has been exemplary and unmatched in the District of Ba and as the National Team director and vice president.

Mr Patel is the recipient of several awards given by the Government of Fiji.

This includes the peak Hindu religious body Sanatan Dharam Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji and the prestigious life membership of the Ba Soccer Association to name a few.

Vinod Patel’s commitment to community health work has been exemplary as well.

Ba Methodist Mission Hospital, Ba Vision Centre for visually impaired, Fiji Red Cross, St John Ambulance, and Veiseisei Village Sai Health Centre as few notable organisation that he gave his valuable time and support to.

Mr Patel has no plans to stop his service to the community.

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