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Columbia. This trend of geographical distribution still holds good. As in the U.S., in Canada too a majority of Jains reside in urban and industrial centres and happen to be professionals.
Diaspora-Homeland Linkages All diaspora by definition are supposed to maintain, a multiple linkages with their respective homelands through trade relations, socio-cultural associational networks, marriage, pilgrimage and tourism, etc. These linkages are initiated and maintained from both the sides. Talking about the associational networks in the case of the Indian diaspora, for example, the annual event of the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (Indian Diaspora Day) organized by the Government of India since 2003 can be considered as a major initiative by the homeland, whereas the Global Organisation of the People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) that started in 1989 in New York was a diasporic initiative. The Jains are no exception in this regard as can be seen from the activities of some of their socio-cultural associations discussed below.
JAINA Earlier we made a reference to JAINA whose membership is open to all the Jains in North America irrespective of their sect, language or region. JAINA is a federation of 65 Jain associations of USA and Canada and as such provides a forum for fostering co-operation and unity among various Jain communities in North America. Its major objectives are as follows:
1. To promote religious and educational activities related to the
Jains religion and to develop better understanding of the Jain
religion. 2. To assist and promote charitable and humanitarian activities in
North America and worldwide. 3. To actively promote vegetarianism and Nonviolence. 4. To provide and promote academic and cultural exchanges
amongst Jains everywhere. 5. To assist existing Jain associations and support the formation of
new Jain associations in North America. 6. To serve as a liaison with government agencies in pursuance of
the above objectives.
103 Jains in India and Abroad
