Premier Ewart Brown told Indian Rotarians the Bermuda Government is ""putting its money where its mouth is" through the creation of a national service programme.

And yesterday it was announced that Bermudians will now be able to attend Mumbai's Whistling Woods Film Institute at a reduced price as a result of Dr. Brown signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the famed institute.

On Friday, hours before flying to India with a delegation to strengthening ties between the two countries, Dr. Brown unveiled a programme which provides incentives for young Bermudians to volunteer.

In return for 16 hours of community service a month the Government hopes to offer them reduced TCD fees, provide them with free public transport and reduced loans rates.

Yesterday, Dr. Brown told 2000 Rotarians in Mumbai: ""Good government is not principally about steel, glass, bricks and mortar. Good government is about serving people so that they can live, learn, work and play in a sustainable and solid community."

The Premier used Bermuda's recently announced National Service Plan as one example of a Government that is "putting its money where its mouth is."

A press release issued yesterday said Bermuda had a booth at the Outbound Travel Mart, a large tourism event in Mumbai, which the Premier visited. He also visited the film institute where he signed the agreement offering reduced tuition to Bermudian students.

The release added that the Bermuda delegation heard a presentation from executives of Dr. Shetty's Health City. Dr. Shetty is a world-renowned cardiac surgeon.

The Premier also met with several "key businesspeople" while in the city.

Dr. Brown said: "I think these meetings went very well. We learnt a lot about each other and this was an important first step to take in building stronger ties with this huge market. It can do nothing but benefit Bermuda."

Today the Bermuda delegation will be in Chennai, the southern commercial capital of India, for more meetings.