In a special meeting, North America Telugu Society (NATS) Representatives met Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, ‘Mr.Vayalar Ravi’ in New York to discuss NRI issues requiring union Governments’ attention. NATS had been instrumental in assisting Telugu Community across North America. After successfully launching the helpline 1.888.4.Telugu and attending to over several hindered requests, NATS leadership has decided to bring couple of initiatives to the Indian governments’ attention through Overseas Indian affairs Minister. NATS representatives submitted a memorandum to Mr.Vayalar Ravi and stressed the need for govt. assistance to move bodies in case of death of any Indian community member in North America. Mr.Vayalar Ravi positively responded to NATS’ request and assured that he would take up the issue with, Mr.Praful Patel, Civil Aviation Minister in working with Air India to either waive the charges or offer deep discount for transporting body to India. Mr.Vijay Reddy, NATs Helpline Director initiated this effort and Dr.Madhu Korrapati briefed service activities NATS has been taking up in addressing day to day issues of Telugu Community. Mr.Vayalar Ravi praised the service initiatives of NATS and was very appreciate of NATS Help Line (1-888-4-Telugu).

He greatly liked the NATS principle - ‘It is the love that we give and the service we render is the great payoff to the Society’ and Mr.Vayalar Ravi was very impressed with all the recent NATS initiatives such as Food Drive, Polio Eradication, Clothing drive for Flood relief activities etc. Mr.Vayalar Ravi was also briefed about NATS partnership with ‘Rotary Club’ and ‘Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’. Later, Dr.Madhu Korrapati, Mr.Vijay Reddy Annapureddy, Mr.MohanKrishna Mannava, Mr.Anil Boppudi, Mr.Nagendra Gupta and Mr.Siva Prasad Muvva presented a plaque to Mr.Vayalar Ravi and invited him to attend NATS’ biennial conference, America Telugu Sambaralu as a Special Guest. America Telugu Sambaralu will be held at New Jersey Convention Center at Raritan Center, Edison, New Jersey from July 1-3, 2011. Visit www.natsworld.org for more details about NATS. Mr.Vayalar Ravi mentioned that his ministry would work closely with NATS in helping to address the problems of NRI Telugu Community. He also mentioned that Government of India is offering free orientation classes to the people who are traveling overseas for the first time and he mentioned that they would work closely with NATS in coordinating this effort in Hyderabad.