Goa plans law to protect NRIs' properties

Following complaints by non-resident Indians (NRIs) about the security of their properties back home, Goa NRI commissioner Eduardo Faleiro has decided to liaison with the union government to enact legislation to protect properties owned by NRIs here.

"Sometimes there are encroachments on their properties. We have to protect properties of NRIs back home", said Faleiro, who will be visiting Delhi to discuss the problem.

"I will also visit Punjab and Haryana to look into how these states, with maximum NRIs, have solved this problem," said Faleiro.

Unofficial figures state that of the 14 lakh population of the state, over three lakh stay abroad and the state government has specially categorised them as non-resident Goans (NRGs).

Faleiro also favoured dual citizenship for NRIs and the right to vote. "This will help them keep their emotions, spirits and culture with the motherland intact", he said.

Faleiro, who is also a former union minister for external affairs, said the government was contemplating possibility of floating special bonds for NRIs so that they can invest in infrastructure development of the state.

"Nothing has been finalised but we feel that floating such bonds would give them better income on their investment which will encourage them to invest here", said Faleiro.

He also said that a single window system for investment in the state will go a long way in attracting investment. The government is also considering the idea of keeping check on human rights violations against Indians working abroad on low-income jobs.

"We will keep a check to ensure that their human rights and dignity is not violated while working abroad," said Faleiro.