In a New Year bonanza for the Non-Resident Punjabis (NRPs), 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 gathering of the NRPs converged in the maiden Sangat Darshan exclusively organised for them, Badal said that the 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 the NRPs could get their work done in a prompt and hassle-free manner.
“These cells must be provided with the adequate infrastructure so as to help the NRPs visiting these offices. The formal orders regarding the setting up of these cells would be issued soon,” he said. likewise, in another significant step, Badal asked the State Home Secretary to review the list of NRP Proclaimed Offenders (POs) so that no injustice was done to those who were not involved in any crime. He asked the officers to evolve a foolproof mechanism for segregating the NRPs against whom no major crime was proved. Badal categorically said that injustice should not be done with anyone, who was not at all linked with any crime.
Batting for amicable resolution of NRP disputes, the Chief Minister said that the NRI police stations could play a pivotal role in it. “Rather than registering cases in such matters, the NRI police stations must try to resolve these issues with mutual understanding,” he said. Badal also said that a five-member committee comprising NRPs would also be set up in every NRI police stations, so that such matters could be solved with mutual consent.
Dwelling on another issue, Badal asked the Financial Commissioner Revenue (FCR) to start a State-wide campaign for the division of property falling in joint accounts of the family. “The State Revenue Department must dedicate coming three months of January, February and March for accomplishing this task as the NRPs are facing a lot of problems in such matters,” he said.
Exhorting the NRPs to play a far more constructive role in the overall development and prosperity of their homeland, the Chief Minister said that these sons of soil have proved their mettle across the globe through sheer hard work and dedication.\\ Citing the example of Nikki Haley, the Governor of South Carolina in the USA, Badal said that the Punjabis have excelled in every field even in foreign nations. “It is a matter of great pride and honour for us that Punjabis have emerged as frontrunner in every sphere across the globe,” added Badal.