In an apparent attempt to woo the Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) or the Non-Resident Punjabis (NRPs) descending in Punjab on January 10 and 11 for the NRI Sammelan, Punjab Government has decided to put justice on the fast track for them.
Besides, Punjab Government is also planning to come up with an entire separate set up for dealing with the civil case of the NRIs in the State.
The decision to set up special fast track courts dealing with the cases of the NRIs is expected to be taken up in the next Cabinet meeting of the state government.
"The Punjab Government is contemplating to establish a dedicated and separate civil setup for the facilitation of civil matters pertaining to NRIs, and we have initiated the proceedings in this regard," said Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal.
He added, this apart, Punjab would soon have a special fast track court which will hear cases of NRIs and civil setup with civil powers to the authority concerned.
"The issue has been listed for the next Cabinet meeting and is expected to be cleared too. We have already spoken to the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, and they want the allocation of funds from the Punjab Government," said Sukhbir.
He said: "The separation of the NRI Police wing from main stream shown great results with an increase in cases from 1,200 in 2012 to a whooping 3,000 in 2013 out of which around 2,100 complaints has already been resolved."
In future, there would be a complete separate system for civil matters, for which agenda would be brought in the next Cabinet meeting, he added.
listing out other steps taken for the NRI community, Sukhbir said that the holders of the NRI Privilege Card, introduced by the Punjab Government last year, would be entitled for a life insurance of Rs 5 lakh in case of any mishap in Punjab. Also, the NRP card holders are also entitled to use the airport lounges free of cost.
The NRPs cards, having a fees of Rs 500, can also be applied via web portal - www.nripunjab.gov.in - launched by the Deputy Chief Minister on Monday providing a single click solution to the Punjabi diaspora.
He said: "Punjab government has introduced Mera Pind Mera Shehar scheme under which NRIs would have to give only 25 per cent of total matching grant.
Sukhbir also announced 24X7 call center number for the NRIs - +91-172-672301.
Ministers, MPs, MlAs, among invitees of NRI Sammelan
Chandigarh: launching the website for NRIs, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal on Monday said that three Union Ministers of Punjab origin from Canadian Government would take part in the two-day NRI Sammelan besides 15 MPs, seven MlAs, Mayors, 32 journalists and 11 chiefs of Gurdwara committees.
He said that on January 10, there would be an interactive session at Virasat-e-Khalsa complex in Sri Anandpur Sahib, where elected representatives from all six continents would participate to give suggestions and feedback on the policies and programs of the Punjab Government.
"An open session would be held at Bath Castle Jalandhar on January 11, where NRIs from various continents would deliberate on NRI issues," he added.
Deputy Chief Minister said that the NRI Sammelan this year would witness three times more participation than last year.
lokpal not a solution: CM
Chandigarh: Maintaining that setting up of lokpal is not a solution to eliminate corruption, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir called for administrative reforms to "change the system". Also the SAD president, Sukhbir said that he would tell the BJP-led NDA to make administrative reforms an agenda of the alliance to end corruption.
"Corruption will not be eliminated with lokpal, just like crime cannot be eliminated by setting up more police stations. lokpal is not the solution...The only solution is to change the system," said he. However, he clarified that SAD was not against lokpal. "The lokpal, once formed, could also become corrupt," he said.
Sukhbir claimed that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was "copying" its work, and said that the SAD was the real party of 'aam aadmi' (common man).
"SAD is a real 'aam aadmi' party. Whatever they have done, they have copied us. They have done just 10 per cent of what we have done," said Sukhbir, adding that the Punjab government had been running Sangat Darshan programme for the last several years for the benefit of common man.