NRI Sabha to launch helpdesk at IGI Airport

Thursday, 29/05/2014

http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=105475&boxid=58950&uid=&dat=2014-05-29

Jalandhar : In a first-of-its-kind initiative, NRI Sabha Punjab aimed at facilitating Punjabis settled abroad on their arrival in India was all set to launch ‘Immigration and Customs Helpdesk’ at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. The service would be for members of NRI Sabha only.

Two other ‘Immigration and Customs Helpdesk’ counters would be set up at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport Amritsar and another one at Mohali International Airport. The 24X7 desk would have nine-member staffers of customs, immigration and police, who would work in shifts.

A letter in this regard was forwarded to Civil Aviation Minister by NRI Sabha president Jasvir Singh Gill in March this year. In its reply, Under Secretary Sunil Pant had responded to Jasvir Gill that the Ministry of Civil Aviation had accepted the request for setting up the desk.

Talking to Daily Post, Gill said that as the NRI circle was enhancing world-wide, hence the number of complaints of NRIs was also increasing. “To ease the problems of the NRIs being faced by them on their arrival at IGI Airport, it has been decided to set up a counter for Punjabi NRIs, which would be similar to a single-window system. The NRIs on their arrival at Terminal-3 should immediate information either free of cost or on concessional rates,” he said.

Gill said that the initiative would enhance faith of the NRIs in hospitality of the Punjab government and develop a sense of security during their visit to their hometowns. “On arrival in India, most of the time, the NRIs face problems pertaining to immigration and customs. While the helpdesks at IGI and Amritsar Airport would be launched soon, the one at Mohali Airport would be started later,” he added.

The NRI Sabha president said that they had come across cases where Punjabis were harassed at the IGI Airport owing to lack of information. “Misbehaviour and maltreatment by custom officers and immigration staff, alleged corruption by the staff at the airport were some of the major issues reported daily. Besides, NRIs were detained from boarding the plane on frivolous grounds to accommodate some other person”, he shared.

“As the services would be confined to the members of NRI Sabha only, we would also get more members from across the globe.Till date, we have registered as many as 25,000 members from different countries like the US, UK, Canada, Australia besides the European Countries,” he added.

It is pertinent to mention here that NRI Sabha is a non-political and non-profitable organisation dedicated to the service of Punjabi NRIs. The sabha is a registered with Punjab government.