South Africa’s Chapter President of the NRI Welfare Society of India, Jagjit Singh Awarded the “Indian Overseas Prize” in the United States of America.

The Chapter President of the NRI Welfare Society of India, in South Africa, Jagjit Singh, has been awarded the “Indian Overseas Prize” in the United States of America for his distinguished contributions to entrepreneurship and environmental sustainability.

The prestigious accolade which is officially known as the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) was conferred at the Society’s high-profile “Celebrating India–U.S. Ties” Summit held at the historic Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

The “Indian Overseas Prize” is the highest honour conferred on Non-Resident Indians, Persons of Indian Origin, or organisations they lead.

Among other categories, honourees are recognized for the following:

• 1. Eminence in their field, raising India’s profile globally
• 2. Forging closer ties between India, the diaspora, and host nations

Jagjit Singh’s recognition at the “Celebrating India–U.S. Ties” Summit underscores a legacy of innovation and tireless commitment to environmentally sustainable entrepreneurship and leadership.

Convened by Dr. Deepak Singh, Cultural Ambassador of Seychelles, the summit brought together global changemakers from across disciplines, including U.S. Congressman Shri Thanedar as well as diplomats, entrepreneurs, academics, and policy strategists.

Jagjit Singh, a dynamic entrepreneur and social catalyst, received multiple accolades during the Summit, including an award for his flagship enterprise, The Royal India Restaurant, and another one on behalf of JRPC Metal Enhancers Pty Ltd, a South African-based e-waste management company based in South Africa.

“This recognition is not just an award, it’s a responsibility to keep excelling,” Singh said in his acceptance speech, dedicating the honour to his team.

At JRPC, working together with other executives including Paul Charles, Narsima Reddy Kalla, and Lourens Van Wyngaard, they oversee a tech-driven approach to e-waste management, offering end-to-end data destruction and environmental remediation services across South Africa and the continent.

JRPC transforms toxic electronic materials into low-cost, bio-friendly products that can fuel economic activity while safeguarding human health and nature.

Their approach to waste management is guided by the 3Rs philosophy:

• 1. Reduce consumption by choosing sustainable electronics
• 2. Reuse devices through donation and refurbishment
• 3. Recycle via certified facilities to extract precious materials safely

In his closing remarks, Jagjit Singh highlighted that according to the United Nations’s Global E-Waste Monitor 2024, a total of 62 million metric tons of e-waste is produced per year since 2022.

Despite this increase in e-waste globally, less than 20% is recycled, and thus translating to $62 billion in recoverable metals like gold, silver, and copper being lost to landfills and the environment.

This figure is expected to reach 82 million metric tons by 2030 with an average person believed to be contributing approximately 7.8 kilograms globally even though this is dependent on the geographical region.

As a solution, Singh encouraged governments, industries, and citizens not to watch from the sidelines but to collaborate on sustainable efforts to turn toxic e-waste into raw materials that can help to create green jobs and make the environment conducive for both humans and nature.

The South African based award-winning entrepreneur expressed gratitude to the summit hosts, notably Dr. Nabarun Ghose and Professor Bellamkonda Kishore, the respective President and Vice President of the NRI Welfare Society USA Chapter, as well as and Raj Kumar, President of the Russia Chapter, and Sanjeev Kumar Shrivastava, an internationally renowned Nadi Astrologer.

He also extended his appreciation to fellow delegates and keynote speakers for their insights and solidarity.

‘’To all supporting team members thank you for being our pillars of strength. Your sacrifices and belief in us make every achievement meaningful.

To all my fellow awardees or prize winners. Congratulations! Your hard work and passion inspire me. Let’s continue to learn, grow, and uplift one another.

Lastly, a big thank you to everyone who contributed to this event.’’

With chapters in 30+ countries, the NRI Welfare Society of India stands at the forefront of promoting unity, progress, friendship and cooperation.