CHANDIGARH: In a New Year bonanza for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in the state, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday announced to set up separate NRI cells in every district across the state for facilitating them in getting their routine administrative works done smoothly.
Addressing a mammoth gathering of Punjab-based NRIs converged in the maiden Sangat Darshan exclusively organized for them in Moga, Badal said that Deputy Commissioners of every district would be asked to provide a separate room for this cell in the respective District Administrative Complexes (DACs) so that NRIs in the state could get their work done without hassles.
He said that these cells must be provided with adequate infrastructure so as to help NRIs visiting them.
Badal also asked state Home Secretary to review the list of NRIs Proclaimed Offenders (POs) so that no injustice is done to NRIs who were not involved in any crime. He asked officers to evolve a foolproof mechanism to segregate NRIs who have not been charged with any major crime.
NRI police stations could play a pivotal role in it, Badal said, adding that instead of registering cases in such matters, NRI police stations could resolve these issues with mutual understanding. The Chief Minister also said a five-member committee comprised of NRIs would also be set up in every NRI police station so that such matters could be solved with mutual consent.
Badal asked the Financial Commissioner Revenue (FCR) to start a statewide campaign for the division of property falling in Joint accounts, and said that the Revenue department must dedicate the coming three months to accomplishing this task, as NRIs in the state were facing a lot of problems in such matters. Badal also said that matters pertaining to the land falling within the Red Line (Lal Lakeer/ Dora) would also be solved soon.
Badal said that the Punjab Urban Rent Control Act has been implemented to secure NRI property. He said that to facilitate quick disposal of Power of Attorney made by NRIs, the powers for stamping/embossing of power of attorneys has been given to Deputy Commissioners for properties falling under that district; to Divisional Commissioners for properties falling within that division; and to Financial Commissioner Revenue for properties falling under more than one division. He further said that to facilitate Punjabis settled abroad, 38 NRI Numberdars have been appointed in the state.
He said 10 per cent reservation in industrial/residential plots have been made by the state government to enable NRIs in purchasing property in the state, besides initiating a scheme for village development through joint investment by NRIs and the state government.