Government to organise NRI sammelan from Jan 3, 2013

by Punjabnewswire4u

CHANDIGARH, OCT 23

 The Punjab Government has decided to organize a three-day NRI Sammelan from January 3 to 5, 2013 in which Punjab Government is set to announce a comprehensive package for NRI Punjabis settled in various countries.

Accompanied by Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, NRI Affairs Minister, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today reviewed the working of the department and took revolutionary decisions to solve the long pending problems of NRI fraternity. It was decided in the meeting that all leading NRIs including elected representatives including former MPs, former MLAs and former councilors, media persons be invited for the three day convention.  The first two days of the session would be held in Chandigarh and concluding day session would be held at Jalandhar. On the first day a brainstorming meeting would be held with the elected representatives of various countries to get their suggestions for measures to be taken by the Punjab Government for the welfare of NRIs. The second day would be devoted to NRI Media and on the third day in the open session, the representatives of Punjab Government would listen to the problems and suggestions of NRI fraternity and announce important decisions.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that NRI Affairs Department has to adopt pro-active approach, open interactive channel of communication with the NRI fraternity, become single point center for redressal of their complaints besides inculcating a sense of confidence amongst the Punjabis settled abroad.

Expressing concern over illegal occupation of properties of NRIs in Punjab, Mr. Badal asked Mr. N.S. Kang, Principal Secretary NRI Affairs to form a sub-committee with IG NRI Affairs and come out with a legal frame work under which protection of the NRI properties would be ensured. It was also decided to have a suggestive list of lawyers for every city and that list be put on web so that NRIs could engage services of such lawyers for their legal disputes.

Concerned about number of youth, who had immigrated illegally abroad detained in various countries, Mr. Badal asked the NRI Affairs Department to conduct a global census of such youth in coordination with the concerned embassies to compile a comprehensive list so that modalities for getting them released or providing them legal aide could be worked out by the Punjab Government.

Worried about the rising number of cases of illegal immigration and travel agents fleecing the innocent youth, Mr. Badal said that Punjab Government has already given its approval to the ‘Human Trafficking Act’ and was awaiting the ascent of Union Government. He said that after the notification of this act, we would be able to check the malpractices of unauthorized travel agents.

Taking a serious note of increasing cases of ‘Fraudulent Marriages’ by NRIs and leaving brides in lurch, Mr. Badal said that Punjab Government was also awaiting the ascent of Union Government for compulsory registration of marriage by NRIs to check this menace. The Home Ministry was also allowed District Revenue Officers and Naib-Tehsildars besides Tehsildars to register the marriages of NRIs.

Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, NRI Affairs Minister, asked IG NRI Affairs Mrs. Gurpreet Deo to work out a centralized monitoring system on the police complaints of NRIs and send them status of their complaints by emails within 15 days. It was also informed in the meeting that 2500 complaints have been registered by NRIs in various police stations, 1000 in NRI Police Stations and 600 with IG NRI Affairs. 

Prominent amongst others, who were present in the meeting included Mr. N.S. Kang, Principal Secretary NRI Affairs, Mr. D.S. Bains, Principal Secretary Home, Mr. P.S. Aujla, Principal Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. R. K. Ganta, Commissioners NRI Affairs, Mrs. Gurpreet Deo, IG NRI Affairs, Mr. Manvesh Singh Sidhu and Mr. Ajay Kumar Mahajan, both Special Principal Secretaries to Deputy CM.