Punjab to launch card for NRIs

Chandigarh: The Punjab government on Monday announced that it will soon launch an NRI card for Punjabis living abroad to identify them for official purposes and facilitate various services for them.

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, accompanied by NRI Affairs Minister Bikram Singh Majithia and former union minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, on Monday asked the NRI affairs department to immediately work out the details for the NRI card 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.

He said that all NRIs will be able to apply for this 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 medicare to them besides offering them attractive discounts on shopping in Punjab.

Badal also asked the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) to explore the possibilities of offering preference to NRIs in house allotment.

Majithia said that a comprehensive website and portal of the NRI affairs department has been finalised and would become operational next month. He said that the website would be multi-dimensional and NRIs would be able to register themselves on it. He said that even the NRI card would be issued on the website itself.

Badal said that a 24-hour NRI helpline should also be functional next month where NRIs would be able to register their complaints and get a time-bound response on action taken.

He said that these steps would inculcate confidence amongst NRIs who feel insecure sitting in a foreign land about their land, property and investments in Punjab.

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