PUNJAB: New policy for NRIs to be announced

Chandigarh, January 2, 2013: Punjab is all set for hosting NRI Sammelan 2013to be held on January 4 and 5 at Chandigarh and Jalandhar respectively. All preparations have been completed for this mega event with a view to resolve the grievances of Punjabi Diaspora.

Disclosing this, Bikram Singh Majithia, NRI Affairs Minister, Punjab today said that an open discussion would be held to resolve the complaints pertaining to NRIs. He said that special cooperation and inputs from Punjabi Diaspora would also be sought to give further impetus to the development of Punjab on the pattern of developed countries of the world.

He said that as per the expectations of Punjab Government more than more than 50 elected representatives including sitting and former MPs, MLAs, Mayors and Councillors from all parts of the world are participating in the event. On the invitation of Punjab Government Tim Uppal, Member Parliament and Minister from Canada, Manmeet Bhullar, MLA and Minister, Canada, Param Gill, Member Parliament Canada, Parminder Singh Member Parliament Uganda, K.S. Bakshi, Member Parliament from New Zealand, Lord Raj Loomba, MP UK, Lord Diljit Rana, MP UK, Gurmant Grewal, Former MP Canada, Darshan Kang, MLA Canada, Peter Sandhu, MLA Canada, Ruby Dhillon, Mayor USA, Pritam Singh Grewal, Mayor UK, Darshan Singh Grewal, Former Mayor UK, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, K.C. Mohan and Sachin Gupta (all Councillors UK) and Ajit Singh Atwal, Judge from the United Kingdom are  among the prominent Punjabis abroad attending the event.

More than 45renowned journalists from various countries have already reached to take part in the NRI Sammelan.

Divulging into the details of Sammelan, Majithia saidthat on the first day Chief Minister, Punjab Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal accompanied by the ministers and senior officers of Punjab Government would hold a
brainstorming session with the elected reps of various countries to get their suggestions and measures for the welfare of NRIs.

Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy CM will give a power point presentation on Progressive Punjab. The interactive session would be on Punjabi Diaspora –Opportunities and Challenges, New Era New dreams Vision of NRI Punjabi for Punjab.

He said that in afternoon session, special discussion would be held with the NRI Media and their help would be sought to project the various initiatives undertaken by the government to put   the state on the path of progress and development in their respective countries. The Minister informed that it is for the first time ever that the NRI Media has been invited to take part in discussions regarding Punjab’s development and the problems faced by NRI community. He said that the participating representatives and personalities from the various sections of NRI Media would also visit Virasat-E-Khalsa to know the rich heritage and culture of Punjab.

Majithia said that during the NRI Samellan, Punjab Government would also announce a new policy to facilitate NRIs with a focus to resolve the issues of Punjabi Diaspora. It would highlight the facilities for them along with the details of steps being taken by
Punjab Government for the facilitation of NRIs. He said that the Sammelan would conclude on January 5 at Jalandhar, where Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister would interact with the NRIs, elected representatives and NRI Media in an open session during the discussion.