Two NRIs nominated for Bush President Panel

Washington, May 29, 2004

The president's commission consists of 15 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, who have a history of involvement with the different communities. IARC, The Indian American Republican Council has welcomed the nomination of two Indian Americans to a US presidential panel. This is a good sign hat the number of Indian Americans serving in President Bush's administration continues to increase.

This commission of 15 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders will primarily advise the president on improving Asian American participation in the economic and community development of Asian American and Pacific Islander businesses. Without compensation, they will serve a two-year term. Bush has acknowledged the importance of the Indian American community by appointing these two highly qualified individuals to serve on this commission.

The council has three main goals. First and most importantly, it hopes to educate Indian Americans on the principles and values upheld by the Republican Party. Most Indian Americans are fiscally conservative and value family and education very highly, ideals that are similar to Republican values.

Two Indian Americans to a US presidential panel:

• Joseph Melookaran of Kansas (accountant):
  
  

Joseph Melookaran serves as chairman of the Indian American Republican Council of Kansas, chairman of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Kansas City and national co-chair of the Indian Americans for Bush-Cheney.

He is active in the Republican politics in Kansas.

Melookaran is an accountant and president of an accounting and information technology company that has won numerous awards in the Midwest .

However, a majority of Indian American voters are Democrats. Melookaran believes many Indian Americans consider the Republican Party to not be inclusive. Through education, the council hopes to dispel these myths and clarify the platforms of the Republican Party for the Indian American community.

The council also will strive to increase voter registration in the Indian American community. Most Indian Americans who are citizens and eligible to vote are not registered to vote, mainly because they fear discrimination if they align themselves with either party, Melookaran said. .........more

• Dr. Akshay Desai of Florida:
  

  Desai is a physician and serves as president of the American Family and Geriatric Care, CEO and president of Universal Health Care, president of American Managed Care, LLC, and president of Courtesy Healthcare.

  He is vice president of the American Association of Physicians of Indian origin (AAPI), the largest ethnic medical association in America.

  Desai is also chairman of the Council for Education Policy, Research and Improvement for the state of Florida and was appointed to this position by Governor Jeb Bush. He is on the Board of Directors of the Indian American Republican Council.

  Education
  GOV'T MED COLL, SOUTH GUJARAT UNIV, SURAT, GUJARAT, INDIA, 1981

  Post Doctoral Training
  Geo Washington Univ Hosp, GERIATRIC MEDICINE-INTERNAL MEDICINE
  Univ Il Coll Med-Urbana, INTERNAL MEDICINE

Awards & Honors
VICE CHAIR, NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL AND HEALTH INSTITUTE

BOARD CERTIFIED, AMERICAN BOARD OF GERIATRICS

MEMBER, AMERICAN COLLEGE OF PHYSICIAN EXECUTIVES, FLORIDA POST SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMISSION