With a view to resolving issues relating to Non-Resident Punjabis settled at foreign shores, the Punjab NRIs Affairs Minister Pargat Singh on Tuesday released a vision document with some significant announcements in larger interests of NRIs.
Unveiling the ‘Vision Document’ in a press conference here, Pargat Singh asserted that Punjab Government is fully committed to address issues of NRIs pertaining to their properties, financials aspects thorough an efficient mechanism, which would foster sense of safety, security and affinity in Punjab. The Minister, while commending the role of NRIs/NRPs in the overall development of Punjab, said that every possible effort would be ensured by the State Government to mitigate disconnect of young generations of NRPs with Punjab.
He pointed out that his foremost connect was to connect the present and coming generations of Punjabis with Punjab by ensuring the safety of the NRPs and make them feel at home while travelling to state by providing them the support of the system of state. He said that enhancing the tourism facilities besides motivating them to visit India and Punjab particular at least as tourists was also another goal of the State Government.
Announcing that the home stay culture will also be promoted in the state, the Minister said that this step would further boost bonds of younger generations with the people of Punjab. He also stated that cultural exchange programs and summer course would also be initiated at school and university levels. The NRIs/NRPs will be facilitated for setting up business in Punjab by providing the ease of doing business and requisite incentives along with single window system, said the Minister adding that financial and commercial activities related wing shall be established in the NRI commission or a separate body shall be made in this regard wherein all commercial and finance related issues of NRPs shall be resolved under single window. An effective grievance redressal and feedback mechanism shall also be established, said Pargat Singh adding that all grievances of NRIs shall be captured at one window with subsequent taken up with concerned authorities for adequate solution well within time.
He said that aneffective communication channels by way of website and app shall be established to keep the NRPs aware of the developments in the state.
The Minister also said that the medical tourism shall be regulated and facilitated besides setting up of self-evolving and sustainable mechanism, which, should quickly respond to the changing requirements of the NRPs. He said that short term summer school courses shall be set up in the universities which could acquaint the young NRIs with the rich cultural & religious heritage of Punjab to bring them closer to their VIRASAT.
Reiterating that his aim is not only to mitigate the hardships being faced by the NRIs/NRPs, the Minister also mentioned that the State Government would keen to eradicate all those reasons, which were taken the younger generations away from their roots.
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