NRI SAMMELAN: Dy CM calls upon NRIs not to be misled by false propaganda by political opponents

Jalandhar, January 5, 2013  : Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today assured the Punjabi Diaspora settled across the globe to address all their genuine hardships relating to their land and other civil matters on the top priority in result oriented manner and asked he NRI Affairs Minister Bikram Singh Majithia to get all the issues examined which came up for discussion during Two-days Parvasi Punjabi Sammelan before taking a final decision in this regard. 

Addressing a mammoth gathering here at Cabana Club near Phagwara on the second day of the NRI sammelan, Badal promised the NRIs and others dignitaries that the decisions taken for their welfare would be implemented in the letter and spirit.  He said that the high level joint committee of senior cabinet ministers under his chairman and representatives of NRIs would deliberate upon the issues thread bare so that the consensus emerged at this august forum could be bring to logical end.  He reiterated his commitment that the welfare of Punjabi NRIs was on the highest priority of government agenda and the promises made with them would be fulfilled at every cost as it was a question of the credibility of the state government.   

The chief minister asked Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and Majithia to have regular interaction with him from time to time to ensure implementation of these decisions in a time bound manner.  He categorically said: “I stood by every word which I promised with my NRI brethren”.  He urged the NRI dignitaries to be in touch with the state government for their healthy suggestions to bring far more improvement in the services being provided by the government to them as they had a vast experience and better administrative experience having latest access to the information technology and other communication techniques like online communication/redressal system of grievances as prevalent in their respective countries.  He rued probably communication gap was the major malady which result in poor implementations of decisions and asked them to correct us wherever they found any deficiency in any welfare scheme or policy meant for NRIs. 

Badal unequivocally said that the sole objective of this NRI sammelan was to ensure the overall well being of the Punjabi Diaspora settled in various parts of the world and none should link it with any sort of political mileage as it was our bounden duty to resolve the issues of NRIs because they were an integral part of our society.

Seeking fulsome support and cooperation from NRIs in imparted skill training to the unemployed youth, Badal said that the state government was ready to invest and provide requisite infrastructure for the purpose.  He urged them to send a team of experts in the field of skill development who could help the government to prepare a blue print to effectively combat the problem of unemployed youth.   Likewise, he also sought a panel of eminent doctors, engineers, progressive farmers and technocrats who could guide the government in its ongoing programs and schemes related to health care and medical research, infrastructure, scientific agriculture etc.  He pointed out that the state government had already tied up with the federal German government for the skill development program in the state under which five lakh youth would be imparted skill training over a period of five years. 

Recalling the glorious history of Shiromani Akali Dal, Badal said that it had a saga of numerous sacrifices for the welfare of the Sikh panth.  He said that the party ever since had propagated its rich legacy to strengthen the routes of Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiat.  He said that the credit goes to Shiromani Akali Dal for ensuring congenial atmosphere of peace, communal harmony and brotherhood which was the redeeming factor for any state to achieve prosperity and development.  Highlighting the exemplary role of Shiromani Akali Dal as a champion of the freedom of press, Badal said that he along with several party colleagues were imprisoned during emergency. 

Further, the Chief Minister announced a scholarship for 50 economically poor students from the state for pursuing higher study abroad and said that the entire expenditure on their studies boarding and lodging would be borne by the state government.  He also announced that a matching development grant would be released by the state government for any project initiated by the NRI in his native village, town or city in the state to ensure the participation of NRIs in the development projects of the state government. 

In his address Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal called upon the NRIs not to be swayed by false propaganda of our political opponents and detractors who were bent upon to malign us. He said that the SAD-BJP alliance had registered a historic win for the second consecutive term exclusively on the plank of performance and development adding that they have defied our political opponents and detractors who were spreading a word that SAD-BJP would face debacle at hustling to pave a way for Congress. Without mincing words the Deputy Chief Minister said that any political party be it regional, national or at international level should realize that only one could seek people’s mandate in their favour on the basis of performance and not merely shouting slogans from the top of the roof. He said that it should be clear to everyone including us either perform or perish.

Deputy Chief Minister announced that the state government would hold this gala event annually to strengthen ties with the NRIs settled in various countries abroad adding that they would be leading a delegation to Canada in June 2013 to interact with Punjabi Diaspora there in an effective manner. He underlined the need for regular exchange of political delegation on the lines of student exchange program to develop better channels of communication to foster a sense of goodwill, mutual understanding and harmony. Lauding the indomitable spirit of Punjabi NRIs, in the overall development of the countries of their adoption Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal sought support and co-operation from them to develop major projects and make investments in the areas of their interest. He assured them of single window service to ensure fast track clearances for their projects.

The Deputy Chief Minister said Punjab would be power surplus by end of this year and 4/6 laned road connectivity with every town and city in the state within next three years. He said that under the stewardship of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal the state government had taken a slew of measures for the well being of NRIs like enactment of compulsory registration of Marriage Act, Punjab Urban Rent Control Act, Prevention of Human Trafficking and Smuggling Act etc. to save the NRIs from undue harassment by the dishonest tenants, fraudulent grooms and unscrupulous travel agents. The Punjab Government would soon set up three fast track courts across the state to ensure quick dispensation of Justice to the NRIs besides 8 NRI Police Stations to deal exclusively with NRI complaints.

Apart from these 10% residential and commercial plots in PUDA and other government urban development authorities would be reserved for the NRIs. To ensure requisite services to the NRIs under one roof two state of the art NRI Bhawans would be set up Mohali and Jalandhar. He said that the state Police department was fully sensitised to the problems faced by the NRIs who have been declared Proclaimed Offenders and efforts were afoot to get the innocent NRIs absolved from these charges. The Deputy Chief Minister also announced that none of the Police officer below the rank of DSP would be authorized to lodge a FIR against NRI and now it would be registered only by DSP after due verification.  

Earlier in his inaugural address Revenue and Information and Public Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia thanked all the participating NRIs for the overwhelming response given to this gala event. Lauding the role played by Punjabis in the development of Punjab and India as well as in the countries wherever they have settled abroad, the Minister said that due to their rare qualities of entrepreneurship, hard work and resilience the Punjabi brethren have proved their mettle in every field. He said that the main motive of calling this two days Parvasi Punjabi Sammellan was to take the views of the Punjabi Diaspora settled abroad in ushering a new era of unprecedented development in the state besides redressing the matters pertaining to the NRIS.

Majithia said that the suggestions that have came out of this two days interactive session would go a long way in helping the state government to formulate policies for ensuring the well being of the Punjabis settled abroad by safeguarding their interests in their mother state. He said that through this session the NRIs have now became an integral part of policy formulation in the state.

Also, Majithia also urged the NRIs to get them registered for the Non Resident Punjabi Multipurpose card which would act as a key for getting their any work related to the state government within 72 hours.

Earlier the Chief Minister accompanied by the Deputy Chief Minister and Majithia also launched a website of the state government to facilitate the NRIs for redressing their complaints online.

On the occasion, the Government of Punjab also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a NGO run by the Member of House of Lords (UK) Lord Raj Loomba for ensuring the welfare of 5000 widows in the state by imparting technical training to them. On the part of the state government Principal Secretary NRI Affairs SS Channy signed the MoU with Lord Loomba in presence of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and Cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majithia. Under this MoU Rs 1 crore would be given by Loomba foundation whereas a matching grant of Rs 1 crore would be given by the state government.

At the very outset of the second day of the session an impressive documentary showcasing the role played by Ghadar movement in the Indian Freedom Struggle was also telecasted amongst the audiences.