The Punjab government today decided to launch a NRI Card for Punjabis living abroad to give a specific identity to every NRI besides offering them slew of facilities in Punjab.The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal accompanied by NRI Affairs Minister Bikram Singh Majithia and former Union Minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia asked NRI Affairs department to immediately work out the details of this proposal and implement it at the earliest. Badal said that Punjab has 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.The Deputy Chief Minister gave in-principle approval for a unique NRI card to be offered to every NRI who would be able to apply for this card on the website of NRI department. The card besides giving identity to the NRIs for every official purpose, would assure quality medicare to them besides offering them attractive discounts on the shopping in Punjab. He asked PUDA to explore the possibilities of offering preference to NRIs in house allotment.Majithia informed the Deputy Chief Minister that a comprehensive website and portal of NRI Affairs department has been finalized and would become operational next month. He said that this website would be multi dimensional website and NRIs would be able to register themselves on the website itself. He said that even NRI card would be issued on the website itself. He said that registration of every NRI made mandatory.Appreciating the endeavour of website Badal said that a 24 hour NRI helpline should also be functional next month that would be able to register the complaints of NRIs 24 hours besides giving them time bound response on Action Taken Report. He said that these steps would inculcate confidence amongst NRIs who feel insecure sitting in foreign land.Asking the tourism department to explore the possibility of student exchange programme brand named as ‘Know your motherland’ Badal said that under this programme NRI student should be offered one month guided tour of Punjab so that next generation NRIs who don’t have any idea of Punjab should be given a glimpse of rich cultural heritage and could educate themselves their roots. The Tourism department also informed about the farm tourism programme launched by the department for NRIs.Expressing concern over forcible possession of properties of NRIs, Badal issued directions to initiate amendments in the law to ensure protection of properties of NRIs besides eviction of tenants, whenever NRI wants to return to his motherland. He also asked revenue department to explore the possibility of adopting the properties of NRIs, giving them protection of the state, if the NRI desired so.Expressing concern over legal tangles being faced by NRIs, Badal asked the NRI Affairs department to work out a panel of legal luminaries who would provide legal support to NRIs in the case of distress.Prominent amongst those who were present in the meeting included Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema, MLA, N.S. Kang, Financial Commissioner Revenue, . Gurpreet Deo, IG NRI Affairs, Manvesh Singh Sidhu, Special Principal Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister.