Punjab Rural Development & Panchayats and NRIs Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on Sunday announced that a comprehensive policy, for safeguarding interests of non-resident Indians besides further ensuring their immense contribution in all round development of villages, was on the anvil. The policy is being formulated and implemented shortly.Saying that the draft of the policy will be prepared in next two weeks, which is to be discussed with NRIs for further changes, if needed, and then the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann would approve the same. The Aam Aadmi Party’s Government is focusing on major reforms in rural development, which can be possible promptly with the wholehearted cooperation and help of NRIs, said the Minister adding that once the policy come to effect Punjabi Diaspora would get their works done in a seamless manner.Pointing out that the issues pertaining to properties of NRIs, their legal cases and matrimonial disputes will be the major theme of the upcoming policy, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said the plan would also concentrate to make a strong connect with NRIs for overall development of villages. The cooperation of NRIs will certainly bring massive transformation in education, sports, healthcare sectors vis-à-vis making rural Punjab far more beautiful.
The Minister also made a firm resolve that the AAP Government would be all time available for NRIs so that development of villages could be ensured in a planned way as per futuristic needs.In another significant step, the Minister said nodal officers were being deputed in all districts for facilitation of NRIs. He said that NRIs would meet these nodal officers in case of any grievance related to civil and police administration, who would further direct the officers concerned to act as per law without any delay. This step will go a long way in addressing the issues of NRIs, he added.Citing that the NRIs Department had made an appeal to Punjabi Diaspora a few days back soliciting their support and help for rural development, the Minister said family members of a US based NRI from Athoula village met him yesterday and apprised about their plan for construction of village smart primary school at a cost of Rs. 50 lakh. “I have reached in village within 36-hour to motivate the family and other NRIs besides making a fervent appeal to come forward for the all round development of their respective villages. We are waiting for NRIs for such noble causes as the Government will extend all possible assistance for much awaited transformation in rural Punjab,” he added.
US based NRI Harmel Singh Shah, Gurkaran Singh Shah and Canada bases NRI Navtej Singh Shah offered to construct smart primary school in village at a cost of over Rs. 50 lakh in the memory of their grandfather S. Gurbaksh Singh Shah and Grandmother Bibi Harbans Kaur. The Minister, while addressing a gathering in school premises, also announced that the no objection certificates would be provided instantly to ensure speedy work execution in villages. Dhaliwal, on the spot, directed the officials of forest and education departments to issue requisite NOCs so that the construction of Smart Primary School could be initiated within day or two.Earlier, the Kartarpur MLA Balkar Singh hailed the endeavour of village NRIs to make better education infrastructure, which would be immensely helpful not only to village children but also to others of adjoining villages. He said that the AAP Government was being given foremost priorities to education and healthcare sectors in larger public interests.Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included village Sarpanch Prof. Bhupinder Kaur, NRI Harmel Singh Shah, Deputy Director Rural Development and Panchayats Jagwinderjit Singh Sandhu and officials from civil and police administration.