The Punjab Government today decided to set-up 24X7 call center to redress the grievances of the Non Resident Indians from Punjab that would register their complaints on phone or through website and give them reply to the status of their complaint in a time-bound manner.
This was decided in a high-level meeting presided over by Bikram Singh Majithia, Minister for NRI Affairs, in which besides Chairman NRI Commission Justice Arvind Kumar (Retd), Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh and other senior officers of the state participated. Mr. Majithia said that Punjabi Diaspora have contributed a lot in the development of state and it becomes our bounden duty to ensure that there was no harassment of NRIs in the state. Asking NRI Commissioner to prepare a case to set-up round the clock call center to address the grievances of NRIs, Mr. Majithia said that besides call center the department would also come out with an interactive website. He said that since the time zones of various countries differ with India, it was imperative that call center worked 24 hours for the convenience of Punjabi diaspora. Expressing concern over reported cases of harassment, cheating of NRIs, Mr. Majithia said that Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) and Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) would be ex-officio designated as Nodal Officers of NRI, who would be duty-bound to deliver justice to NRIs in a time-bound manner. He said that they would also submit detailed fortnightly statement of cases received and action taken to the state cabinet. He asked NRI Commissioner Mr. Vikas Partap Singh to issue instructions to all Deputy Commissioner that they should open a separate counter for NRIs in Suwidha and Saanjh Kendras besides exhibiting the literature for NRIs in DC and SSP Offices.
Requesting the NRI Commission to take suo-motto notice of complaints of NRIs coming in press and electronic media, Mr. Majithia said that in a state like Punjab, NRI commission would have to play pro-active role. He said that people in general and NRIs in particular have to be educated about role of NRI Commission by a multi media campaign. Emphasising for interactive communication with NRIs by the Punjab Government Official, Mr. Majithia directed that each pisional Commissioner would participate in a live talk show especially in Radio Stations of Canada, USA, UK, European Countries and Australia to instill confidence in the NRIs and to convey the message of Punjab Government to them. They would also attend to the complaints of NRIs in such talk shows.
Prominent amongst those, who were present in the meeting S.S. Chattopadhya, ADGP NRI Affairs, Gurpreet Deo, IG NRI Affairs, Jagtar Singh, member NRI Commission.