by Moiz Mannan
The prominent manpower exporting state of Punjab, which has witnessed a sizeable outbound migration shift towards the Gulf region, is hard-pressed to ensure the welfare of its rich as well as poor diaspora abroad.
Whereas, property disputes and personal safety top the agenda of the wealthier class of Punjabi NRIs, mostly residing in the US and UK, the call from the blue-collar workers in the Gulf is to rein in exploitation and trafficking by unscrupulous agents.
In the latest move, the Punjab government has announced that ‘NRI Sabhas’ (councils) would be set up in each of its 22 districts to ensure their welfare, safeguard their rights and create awareness about the special programmes and policies meant for them.
A spokesman for the Punjab government was quoted by the media as asserting that the Punjab NRI affairs minister Tota Singh was keen to resolve the pendency of cases pertaining to NRIs in minimum time, he added. Instructions in this regard have been issued to all divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, IG NRI affairs, commissioners of police and senior superintendent of police so the NRIs could not have to face harassment. Eleven exclusive NRI police stations have already been setup in the state and four more are proposed to ensure speedy redressal.
Punjab was also one of the Indian states that took part in a conference organised in September by the Indian government at Abu Dhabi aimed at improving the delivery of services for welfare of Indians expatriates.
An NRI Foundation in Punjab has been tasked with expediting implementation of welfare programmes for NRIs. It includes top educational institutions, associations and NGOs.
On its part, the working of the Punjab NRI Commission has also been boosted. Very recently, the commission issued notice to a large private bank on the complaint of an NRI who alleged funds being siphoned off by a bank employee.
A little less than a year back, the Punjab legislature passed two landmark amendment Bills aimed at enabling Punjabi NRIs to vacate their property from tenants in the state. Earlier, the state government had in 2008 enacted a law empowering the NRIs and Armed Forces personnel to get their single property vacated from tenants. With this amendment, the NRIs can get their ancestral property and that owned by them for at least 5 years vacated. Under the new amendments, those who have given land on lease or rent, would be able to get it back without providing alternate arrangements for stay and other strong conditions. A single ownership proof and a visit to the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) would do the needful.
To enable the poorer among its diaspora to own homes in their state, the Punjab government has reserved for them 10 per cent of plots and houses in schemes developed by the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) and all other authorities. For NRI entrepreneurs, the state’s Department of Industries and Commerce had already made a 10 per cent reservation for allotment of industrial land.
To address the serious problem of legal transfers and execution of deeds and contracts faced by Punjabis living overseas, the Punjab Government last year made rules to amend the Indian Stamp Act 1925 in their application to the state. An NRI can now get there Power of Attorney stamped at the district and divisional level in additional to office of the Financial Commissioner revenue Punjab at Chandigarh.
Disputes over property, even between estranged relatives, and police and court cases arising from these have been one of the most pressing issues for Punjabi NRIs. Hundreds of NRIs have complained about being falsely implicated only for the purpose of harassment. In this regard, the Punjab Government has sought to put checks on registration of unwanted FIRs against NRIs by making it mandatory for SHOs to first get approval from the concerned DSP. To ensure fairness and transparency in cases where there are allegations that inquiry through the local police is likely to be biased, these matters are now being examined in the NRI Affairs Wing under the Community Affairs Division at the Punjab Police Headquarters in Chandigarh. The NRI Affairs Wing which was earlier headed by DIG rank officer has now been upgraded and is now headed by an IGP. In addition, an SP/NRI Affairs is also posted at Police Headquarters for monitoring grievances and complaints of the NRIs.
Punjab is, however, struggling to implement one of the most important initiatives for low-paid migrants – the Prevention of Human Smuggling Act. It was a pioneering legislation aimed at curbing exploitation and trafficking that result in illegal migration. However, the law ran into rough weather after travel agents challenged it in the court. A final disposal of the case is awaited.
The Peninsula
