The Punjab Government has announced that it would launch this month a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Card for Punjabis living abroad to identify them for official purposes and facilitate various services for them.
This newspaper understands that the facility would be only for Punjabis holding Indian passports.
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, along with NRI Affairs Minister Bikram Singh Majithia and former Union Minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia urged the NRI Affairs Department (of the Punjab Government) to work out details for the NRI card and implement the Scheme at the earliest.
Mr Badal said that Punjab had to involve NRIs in the process of development by assuring them total support of the State Government and offering them legal support in their cases.
He said that all NRIs will be able to apply for the Card on the website of the NRI department.
He said the Card, besides giving an identity to the NRIs for official purposes, would assure quality medical care besides offering them attractive discounts on shopping in the State.
He also asked the Punjab Urban Development Authority to explore possibilities off offering preference to NRIs in house allotment.
Mr Majithia said that a comprehensive website and portal of the NRI Affairs Department has been finalised and would become operational this month.
He said that the website would be multi-dimensional, with online registration facility. A round-the-clock NRI Helpline would also be launched for registration, complaints and other matters.
Source: India Abroad News Service
