Punjab planning to set up special courts for NRIs: Sukhbir

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said his government was planning to set up special courts for NRIs on the lines of the existing police stations in the state.
The government was contemplating to establish a dedicated and separate civil set-up for facilitation of civil matters pertaining to NRIs, Sukhbir told a press conference here.
He said in future there would be a totally separate system for civil matters, and the matter would be brought up in the next cabinet meeting. He said the setting up of NRI Police Wing brought good results with an increase in the number of cases -- 1,200 in 2012 and 3,000 in 2013, out of which 2,100 complaints had been sorted out.

He also launched a web portal for Punjabi NRIs, enabling them to have an access to the state-run welfare programmes and grievance redressal system on the eve of NRI Sammelan slated for January 10-11 at Sri Anandpur Sahib and Jalandhar.
"With this portal (www.Nripunjab.Gov.In), NRIs will be connected with the Punjab government," Badal said.
About the forthcoming "NRI Sammelan", Badal said on the first day, an interactive session will be held in which NRIs including elected representatives from across the globe would give suggestions and feedback on the policies and programmes of the Punjab government.

He said three Canadian Ministers of Punjab origin - Tim Uppal, Bal Gosal and Manmeet Bhullar - would take part in it.

Prominent among others who will take part in the conference include Lord Diljit Rana from Westminster, UK; Ramesh Singh Arora, MLA, Pakistan; Dr Anarkali Kaur, Honorary MP from Afghanistan; Sachin Gupta, Mayor, UK. He said an open session would be held at Jalandhar on January 11, where NRIs from various continents would deliberate on NRI issues.
Badal said the holders of Non-Resident Punjabi card, introduced by the Punjab government last year, would be entitled for a life insurance of Rs 5 lakh.
He said the government had introduced a "Mera Pind Mera Scheme" under which NRIs would have to give only 25 per cent of total matching grant. He said that a twenty-four hours call centre has also been established for NRIs.