Demand for say in NRI Commission

Saturday, 05/01/2013

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130105/punjab.htm#2

Chandigarh : Punjabi NRIs are mainly concerned about the security of their land holdings and properties in Punjab. They also want a say in the functioning of the NRI Commission, besides a review of the cases in which NRIs have been "unjustly declared proclaimed offenders".

They also want better coordination between their representatives and the Punjab Government.

Elected NRI representatives claimed that members of the community were harassed through registration of false dowry cases and even false FIRs. Calgary MLA Darshan Singh Kang said FIRs were registered against NRIs to allegedly harass them and discourage them from returning to Punjab. "Cases against NRIs should be decided in NRI courts and a judicial commission should be appointed to look into all NRI cases," he said. He also called for de-listing of NRIs who had been declared proclaimed offenders on the basis of "frivolous" or "false" cases.

Alberta MLA Peter Sandhu said, "The NRI commission is not representative-enough and it should also have a NRI representative."

Former Canada MP Gurwant Grewal said, "There is need for having a single-window kind of system in the NRI Commission so that all complaints as well as inquiries can be addressed quickly." Canadian MP Param Gill touched upon the issue of fraud marriages but stressed that NRIs were also victims in many cases. He said, "Compulsory registration of marriages at the grassroots level will help NRIs as well as the government to trace the antecedents of the applicants." Canadian Minister Tim Uppal said, "Several NRIs want to give back something to their country of origin. For this, the government needs to create a support mechanism." He said there could be a designated office also for this purpose.

Youth leader and UK councillor Sachin Gupta said there was also a problem among the youth born abroad who were not very interested in their roots. He said, "The government should showcase to the youth the rich Indian heritage and culture. This is important because if NRI youth lose interest in the state, their parents will also eventually stop coming back." There was also a suggestion that seats in educational institutions, particularly medical colleges could be reserved for NRIs. Both Uganda MP Parminder Singh Marwaha as well as Malyasian Senator Daljit Dosanjh said if top educational facilities were available to NRIs in Punjab, the families could continue to retain their bonds with their motherland.

Canadian minister Manmeet Singh Bhullar said, "There is need for more academic collaboration between the youth from Punjab and foreign countries."

Voicing concern

Sachin GuptaThe government should showcase to the youth the rich Indian heritage and culture
— Sachin Gupta, UK councillor

Peter SandhuThe NRI commission is not representative enough and it should also have a NRI representative
— Peter Sandhu, Alberta MLA

G GrewalThere is need for having a single-window kind of system in the NRI Commission so that all complaints as well as inquiries can be addressed quickly
— G Grewal, Ex-MP, Canada

PS Marwaha,If top educational facilities are available to NRIs in Punjab, the families could continue to retain their bonds with their motherland
— PS Marwaha, Uganda MP