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Punjab CM forms 11 member advisory committee for NRI's
Satinder Bains
Sunday, 06 January 2008
JALANDHAR; Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Sunday announced to constitute a 11 member Advisory Committee on NRIs to aid and advise the state government on the matters and issues relating to the welfare of the NRIs.
Presiding over concluding function of Punjabi NRI Sammelan here, Badal said that 7-8 members would be taken on the committee amongst the eminent NRIs from different countries having fairly large population of Punjabi diaspora and the remaining members would be from the government of Punjab in consultation with the NRIs. The basic objective of this committee would give suggestions and recommendations to the state government to evolve a mechanism for the quick disposal of pending complaints relating to property, matrimonial and other disputes.
Referring to the other welfare measures announced by him yesterday on the first day of Punjabi NRI Sammelan held at Chandigarh, Mr.Badal said that the state government had decided to set up NRI Police Stations in six districts of Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Nawashahar, Moga and Ludhiana for the quick disposal of cases involving NRIs and setting up an empowered committee headed by the Chief Secretary and including an NRI affairs and Secretaries of the concerned departments for the fast clearances of NRI requests. He also announced the setting up of a NRI Information cum facilitation center at International Airport Amritar to provide information to NRIs regarding various schemes and projects to them under one roof. Likewise he also announced to open an office of NRIs affairs at Jalandhar for their welfare from Doaba region - the heartland of the NRIs in Punjab.
To have an effective interaction with the NRIs, Badal announced to launch another Sangat Darshan exclusively for the NRIs to redress their grievances on the priority.
The Chief Minister broadly outlined the vision of SAD-BJP Government for the overall development and prosperity of Punjabi diaspora settled across the globe. He pointed out that our government had already set up a separate department of NRIs affairs to be headed by the Secretary NRI Affairs under the direct supervision of Chief Secretary. Mr.Badal urged the NRIs to participate in the state government's scheme for 75:25 matching grant for NRIs investment in development projects.
He also impressed upon the NRIs to jointly set up NRIs schools initially upto 10+2 level in the state with the participation of Punjab government on the basis of 50:50 sharing to apprise the progeny of NRIs especially of second and third generation with the culture of Punjab who had been completely detached from the rich cultural heritage of their motherland.
Emphasizing the need to have regular interaction with NRIs, Badal said that NRI Sammelan should be held twice a year once in India and other abroad. For this purpose four segments with NRIs consultation have been identified viz. America-Canada, Europe Australia and Gulf with an aim at taking the government to their doorsteps.
In another significant decision, the Chief Minister also announced the setting up of high powered committee headed by the director general of Police to review the cases of NRIs who had been declared proclaimed offenders or absconders. DIGs of the concerned range and SSP of the concerned districts, said Mr.Badal would send their recommendations to the committee. About 1300 such cases would be processed within two months. The Chief Minister also assured the NRIs that they could file complaint from anywhere and it would be referred to the concerned district and the problems relating visa being faced by them would be taken with the GoI. All the police stations would have web enabled hotline to have better and an effective mechanism to assist the NRIs. The SP headquarter had been designated as SP NRIs Affairs for the said purpose.
Mr.Badal called upon the NRIs to come forward and play a pro-active role to bridge the communication gap between the state government and the Punjabis settled across the globe. "Such conferences are ideal forums to achieve this end and that's why we are making it an annual feature, said Mr.Badal. He reiterated that our government was committed for maintaining law & order and communal harmony to enable our people in general and Punjabi NRIs in particular who had made immense contribution for the overall development of the state.
Making a firm resolve to safeguard the properties of the people from illegal possession and usurping, Mr.Badal assured the NRIs that the cases of illegal possession of their properties would be dealt with severally according the rule of the law.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also released the copies of special issues of Amritsar Times and World Sikh News published from USA, which had been dedicated to the Punjab NRI Sammelan.
Responding to the issues raised by the prominent NRIs, Ms.Neena Gill, Member of EV Parliament from Brussels, Mr.Ujjal Dosanj, former Premier of British Columbia Canada, Dr. (Ms) Ruby Dhalla, M.P from Canada, Gurbax Singh Malhi, M.P. from Canada, Minister Harinder Singh Takhar from Canada and Mr.Varinder Sharma, former Mayor of London and Member Parliament UK, Mr.Badal outlined the major initiatives taken by the Punjab government in a short span of 10 months were spectacular which included the setting up of Mohali International Airport besides the up gradation of Amritsar International Airport. He sought technical and financial collaboration from NRIs for the upgradation of infrastructure in Punjab.
In a welcome address, patron of the NRI Sabha Surjit Singh Rakhra said that the 2-days Punjab NRI conference would prove to be a milestone in the history of Punjab government- NRIs relationship. He hoped that the suggestions put forth by the NRIs during the conference would enable the government to formulate a concrete policy for their welfare.
Prominent amongst others who attended the sammelan included Member Parliament & Working President Mr.,Sukhbir Singh Badal, senior Akali Leader and former Punjab Minister Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Member Parliament and former Union Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Cooperation Minister Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, Local Govt. & Industry Minister Manoranjan Kalia, Information Minister Bikram Singh Majithia, besides senior leaders and party workers of SAD-BJP.
Media Advisor to Chief Minister Mr.Harcharan Bains, Advisor to Chief Minister Dr.DS Cheema, Chief Secretary RI Singh, DGP NPS Aulakh, Commissioner NRI Affairs Mr.AS Chhatwal, Principal Secretary Information & Public Relations Mr.DS Jaspal and Director Information & Public Relations Mr.Tejveer Singh were also present on the occasion.
Presiding over concluding function of Punjabi NRI Sammelan here, Badal said that 7-8 members would be taken on the committee amongst the eminent NRIs from different countries having fairly large population of Punjabi diaspora and the remaining members would be from the government of Punjab in consultation with the NRIs. The basic objective of this committee would give suggestions and recommendations to the state government to evolve a mechanism for the quick disposal of pending complaints relating to property, matrimonial and other disputes.
Referring to the other welfare measures announced by him yesterday on the first day of Punjabi NRI Sammelan held at Chandigarh, Mr.Badal said that the state government had decided to set up NRI Police Stations in six districts of Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Nawashahar, Moga and Ludhiana for the quick disposal of cases involving NRIs and setting up an empowered committee headed by the Chief Secretary and including an NRI affairs and Secretaries of the concerned departments for the fast clearances of NRI requests. He also announced the setting up of a NRI Information cum facilitation center at International Airport Amritar to provide information to NRIs regarding various schemes and projects to them under one roof. Likewise he also announced to open an office of NRIs affairs at Jalandhar for their welfare from Doaba region - the heartland of the NRIs in Punjab.
To have an effective interaction with the NRIs, Badal announced to launch another Sangat Darshan exclusively for the NRIs to redress their grievances on the priority.
The Chief Minister broadly outlined the vision of SAD-BJP Government for the overall development and prosperity of Punjabi diaspora settled across the globe. He pointed out that our government had already set up a separate department of NRIs affairs to be headed by the Secretary NRI Affairs under the direct supervision of Chief Secretary. Mr.Badal urged the NRIs to participate in the state government's scheme for 75:25 matching grant for NRIs investment in development projects.
He also impressed upon the NRIs to jointly set up NRIs schools initially upto 10+2 level in the state with the participation of Punjab government on the basis of 50:50 sharing to apprise the progeny of NRIs especially of second and third generation with the culture of Punjab who had been completely detached from the rich cultural heritage of their motherland.
Emphasizing the need to have regular interaction with NRIs, Badal said that NRI Sammelan should be held twice a year once in India and other abroad. For this purpose four segments with NRIs consultation have been identified viz. America-Canada, Europe Australia and Gulf with an aim at taking the government to their doorsteps.
In another significant decision, the Chief Minister also announced the setting up of high powered committee headed by the director general of Police to review the cases of NRIs who had been declared proclaimed offenders or absconders. DIGs of the concerned range and SSP of the concerned districts, said Mr.Badal would send their recommendations to the committee. About 1300 such cases would be processed within two months. The Chief Minister also assured the NRIs that they could file complaint from anywhere and it would be referred to the concerned district and the problems relating visa being faced by them would be taken with the GoI. All the police stations would have web enabled hotline to have better and an effective mechanism to assist the NRIs. The SP headquarter had been designated as SP NRIs Affairs for the said purpose.
Mr.Badal called upon the NRIs to come forward and play a pro-active role to bridge the communication gap between the state government and the Punjabis settled across the globe. "Such conferences are ideal forums to achieve this end and that's why we are making it an annual feature, said Mr.Badal. He reiterated that our government was committed for maintaining law & order and communal harmony to enable our people in general and Punjabi NRIs in particular who had made immense contribution for the overall development of the state.
Making a firm resolve to safeguard the properties of the people from illegal possession and usurping, Mr.Badal assured the NRIs that the cases of illegal possession of their properties would be dealt with severally according the rule of the law.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also released the copies of special issues of Amritsar Times and World Sikh News published from USA, which had been dedicated to the Punjab NRI Sammelan.
Responding to the issues raised by the prominent NRIs, Ms.Neena Gill, Member of EV Parliament from Brussels, Mr.Ujjal Dosanj, former Premier of British Columbia Canada, Dr. (Ms) Ruby Dhalla, M.P from Canada, Gurbax Singh Malhi, M.P. from Canada, Minister Harinder Singh Takhar from Canada and Mr.Varinder Sharma, former Mayor of London and Member Parliament UK, Mr.Badal outlined the major initiatives taken by the Punjab government in a short span of 10 months were spectacular which included the setting up of Mohali International Airport besides the up gradation of Amritsar International Airport. He sought technical and financial collaboration from NRIs for the upgradation of infrastructure in Punjab.
In a welcome address, patron of the NRI Sabha Surjit Singh Rakhra said that the 2-days Punjab NRI conference would prove to be a milestone in the history of Punjab government- NRIs relationship. He hoped that the suggestions put forth by the NRIs during the conference would enable the government to formulate a concrete policy for their welfare.
Prominent amongst others who attended the sammelan included Member Parliament & Working President Mr.,Sukhbir Singh Badal, senior Akali Leader and former Punjab Minister Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Member Parliament and former Union Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Cooperation Minister Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, Local Govt. & Industry Minister Manoranjan Kalia, Information Minister Bikram Singh Majithia, besides senior leaders and party workers of SAD-BJP.
Media Advisor to Chief Minister Mr.Harcharan Bains, Advisor to Chief Minister Dr.DS Cheema, Chief Secretary RI Singh, DGP NPS Aulakh, Commissioner NRI Affairs Mr.AS Chhatwal, Principal Secretary Information & Public Relations Mr.DS Jaspal and Director Information & Public Relations Mr.Tejveer Singh were also present on the occasion.
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