The Punjab Cabinet has approved the Captain Amarinder Singh government’s "Connect with Your Roots” (CYR) programme to reach out to youngsters of Punjabi origin settled in other countries.The programme, aimed at young boys and girls of Punjabi origin, whose parents, grandparents or great grandparents are settled abroad in various countries across the globe, will seek to connect them with their ancestral roots and glorious cultural heritage of Punjab.Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, who had announced the programme during his recent visit to London, briefed the Cabinet about the objective behind the scheme, which is aimed at creating awareness among the NRI youth about the real situation prevailing on the ground in Punjab. The scheme, initiated by the NRIs Affairs Department on the directives of the Chief Minister, would be open to young boys and girls in the age group of 16-22, and facilitate their learning of their family background and the culture to which they belong, and also to build an emotional bonding with the country of their roots. The first group of such youngsters is expected around January 9, 2018, to coincide with the NRI Day and each group would comprise 15 youth.
The Chief Minister said that following the Cabinet approval he will now write to the ambassadors and high commissioners of various countries, including UK, Australia and Canada, to apprise them about the scheme and invite groups from these nations. In the long run, the programme would enhance the engagement of NRIs with Punjab, at the level of the youth, who could be a vital engine in the state's progress.It may be recalled that announcing the programme, the Chief Minister had exhorted young boys and girls, especially those who had never visited India, to participate in the two-week programme, which would provide them a platform to strengthen their roots. Captain Amarinder personally wanted them to visit Punjab and tell his government what they felt about the state and what could be done to further improve things.The Chief Minister had further promised that he and his colleagues would personally welcome such youngsters in Punjab and the state government would allow them to move around freely wherever they wanted.The programme would provide the youngsters with an opportunity to visit their native place or the town where their parents or grandparents were born, or the place where spent their childhood. It will also give them a chance to learn and speak their native language, and see historical places.