by Punjabnewswire4u
CHANDIGARH,
JANUARY 4
The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today
announced the formation of a high level committee on NRI affairs comprising
five senior Cabinet Ministers and equal number of Punjabi NRIs settled across
the globe as representatives to put in place a mechanism for speedy
implementation of the decisions taken at different forums relating to their
overall welfare and safeguard their interests.
Addressing the Punjabi Diaspora here after inaugurating
two day “Pravasi Punjabi Sammellan-2013”, the Chief Minister assured that the
recommendations of the committee would be implemented in a time bound manner.
He reiterated that the SAD-BJP government was committed to ensure the security
of hard earned property of the NRIs so that they could live and work peacefully
in the countries of their adoption. Mr Badal said that the state government has
come out with landmark legislation by enacting Compulsory Registration of Marriages Act to
check the menace of fraudulent and fake marriages and Human Trafficking/
Smuggling Act to prevent the illegal practice of immigrating innocent youth to
abroad by the unscrupulous travel agents by showing them green pastures but
ultimately duping and dumping them in limbo of oblivion. Apart from this, the
state government has also amended the Punjab Urban Rent Control Act to
safeguard the property and ownership rights of the NRIs.
On this
historic occasion, the Chief Minister also announced that in future the NRIs
would be get their multiple properties evicted for multiple times as now the
existing provisions of law under the act was only restricted to a single
property for once. Announcing a slew of other NRI friendly measures, Mr Badal
said that the authority of attestation of the Power of Attorney in case of
property situated in a particular district would now be vested in the concerned
Deputy Commissioner. Likewise in case of different properties located in
different districts within the division would be now attested by the Divisional
Commissioner. Similarly Financial Commissioner Revenue had been authorised for
granting Power of Attorney for inter division cases.
The
Chief Minister also announced to set up three more NRI Police stations for
quick disposal of complaints related to NRI matters, with this the total number
of NRI Police stations across the state had gone upto 11. Mr Badal also
announced to set up a fast track court for NRI affairs in the state to ensure
quick dispensation of justice to the NRIs, for which he has already given
formal clearance. He said that the state government had already established a
NRI Commission headed by a retired Judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Assuring the NRIs that his government was fully sensitised on the issue of
Proclaimed offenders, Mr Badal said that he had already asked the Deputy Chief
Minister Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, who holds the Home Portfolio also, to get
these cases settled at the earliest to enable the innocent NRIs who were facing
these charges could be absolved of them and visit their motherland, where their
roots lie.
Exhorting
the NRIs to play a proactive role in the overall development and growth of the
state, the Chief Minister said that the Punjab was being looked as the most
preferred investment destination due to congenial and investor friendly
atmosphere besides being the most peaceful state in the country with absolute
communal harmony, perfect brotherhood and amity. He wooed the prospective NRI
investors and entrepreneurs to make huge investments in the state especially in
industry and agro processing sector. Mr Badal assured them of all possible
support and co-operation to set up their ventures and business establishments
here. The Chief Minister also envisaged their views on how the state government
could immensely help the NRIs to utilise their potential optimally.
The
Chief Minister called upon the NRIs to share their varied experiences as they
were living in much advanced nations by setting up their ventures in the state
from which Punjab could be enormously benefitted and it could certainly boost
the growth rate. On the occasion Mr Badal also released multipurpose Non
Resident Punjabi Privilege Card which enables the NRIs to seek admissions for
their wards in schools besides getting concessions on shopping in malls, for
boarding and lodging in Hotels and Restaurants and for availing medical care
facilities in selected renowned hospitals.
Recalling
the distinguished services of the Punjabi NRIs across the world, the Chief
Minister said the great sons of soil like Noble Prize Winner Mr Hargobind
Khurana and Attorney General of New York State Mr Preet Bhrara had made every
Punjabi proud and honoured for their outstanding contribution in their
respective fields. Likewise Mr Badal also eulogised the enormous contribution
of NRI Punjabi freedom fighters that spearheaded Ghadar movement from abroad to
free our motherland from the yoke of British imperialism. Earlier, at the very
outset of his address, the Chief Minister urged the NRIs converged on the
occasion to observe two minutes silence as a mark of respect in the memory of
Ghadar Heroes as a part of centenary celebrations of this watershed movement in
the history of Indian National Freedom struggle.
Unfolding
the vision of Punjab to showcase it as the landmark and the most favoured
destination for investment by the NRIs, the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr
Sukhbir Singh Badal made a 55 minutes Power point presentation to gave a bird’s
eye view of overall development scenario and futuristic growth in the state. Mr
Sukhbir Singh Badal urged the NRIs not to be swayed by the false propaganda
unleashed by their detractors and political opponents who were either resorting
to mudslinging or spreading canards to distract the attention of the
prospective investors besides misleading the innocent NRIs. Urging them to be
beware of these anti Punjab elements the Deputy Chief Minister said that never
believe the perceptions because perceptions vary from mouth to mouth but only
trust the reality or the factual position for which he had today endeavoured to
make a humble effort to clear the misconceptions from their minds regarding the
ill conceived and politically motivated false propaganda to defame the SAD-BJP
government for the reasons best known to our political opponents. He said the
sole agenda of our government was to ensure all round development and
prosperity of the people and sought the NRIs unstinted support and co-operation
in their mission to multiply their efforts to make Punjab as front runner state
not only in the country but across the globe. The Deputy Chief Minister also
asked the NRIs not to rely the misrepresented and factually incorrect financial
position of the state in relevance to heavy debt being projected by their
detractors. He said that productive debt was a natural phenomenon for the
growth, which had been accepted worldwide even by the developed nations like
USA and Japan.
Divulging
the futuristic vision about Punjab’s development, he said the Punjab would be a
power surplus state by December 2013 due to the concerted efforts of the state
government as Power was the engine of growth in any economy. Mr Sukhbir Singh
Badal pointed out Punjab which was till date known as the major producer of
food grains would soon be selling Power to the needy states in the country
besides exporting it to Pakistan. The Deputy Chief Minister was confident that
Punjab would soon achieve double digit growth rate.
Listing
the four/six laned express highways projects of the state, the Deputy Chief
Minister said that these projects including Shambu-Jalandhar,
Jalandhar-Pathankot, Jalandhar-Amritsar, Amritsar-Ganganagar,
Ludhiana-Moga-Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur-Jind, Zirakpur-Patiala, Bathinda-Patiala
were the upcoming road projects in PPP Mode to be completed within next few years
at a whopping investment of Rs 76000 crore. He also said Punjab was the first
state to introduce master plans for all 147 towns and cities to ensure planned
and integrated growth thereby checking the malpractice of cutting illegal
colonies which led to haphazard growth. Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the
main focus of the urban development was to ensure 24x7 power supply, 100%
drinking water facility and sewerage water treatment etc.
To
ensure better public transport facilities to the people the Punjab would soon
have the first metro Rail service in Ludhiana, the industrial hub of state, the
work for which would start soon. He said Mono Rail (POD) system would be
started in Amritsar to facilitate the devotees who visit the holy city to offer
prayers at Sri Harmandir Sahib. Nearly Rs 200 crore was being spent by the
state government on the beautification and construction of entrance plaza at
Sri Harmandir Sahib. The Deputy Chief Minister also pointed out that stupendous
efforts have been made to sanction 305 Mega industrial projects with an
investment of Rs 113503.46 crore. To wean away the youth from the menace of
drug addiction the state government had made remarkable contribution in
promotion of sports by strengthening and updating the existing sports infra
structure besides creating new one. He said efforts were afoot to promote
Hockey in a big way after Kabaddi as a household game even at the international
arena. The Deputy Chief Minister said seven out 16 Astro Turf were alone in
Punjab which was a testimony that the state government was committed to regain
its lost glory in Hockey at the national as well as international
level.
Welcoming
the NRIs for attending this gala event, Information and Public Relations
Minister Mr Bikram Singh Majithia said that it was a historic occasion as for
the first time an interactive session was being held between the state
government and the NRIs to elicit their whole hearted support and co-operation
for the policies of state government. The Minister envisioned the two day NRI
meet as a turnaround to emerge Punjab as a force to be reckoned with worldwide.
He said that it was a matter of great pride and honour for the state the NRI
media has for the first time come to cover this event and lauded them for
projecting the state in foreign media in true perspective. Mr Majithia apprised
the Chief Minister that the NRI Media had conveyed their gratitude to the
Punjab government for giving rousing welcome and respect to them in Punjab. On
the occasion he announced that the NRI Media would be entitled for all the
facilities like recognition, accreditation and other facilities like release of
advertisements at par with their counterparts in Punjab.
Prominent
amongst other present on the occasion included Cabinet Ministers, Chief
Parliamentary Secretaries, MLAs, top brass of state civil and Police
administration besides several dignitaries and eminent personalities from
different walks of life.
No comments:
Post a Comment