Chandigarh:
In a span of less than one month since it was set up, the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) cell in Chandigarh has been eagerly sought by the diaspora, receiving as much as 40 complaints.
"Out of the 40 complaints that we have received so far, the majority are property disputes. We have already worked on 16 cases and sent our recommendations to the authorities concerned while the other 24 cases are lying pending with us," Amar Dutt, a retired judge who heads the NRI cell, told reporters on Monday.
"Our main aim is to first try to resolve the issue at our own level but if it is beyond our control, then we send it to the department concerned. We are trying to save NRIs from losing their hard earned money by falling prey to unscrupulous individuals or agents," he added.
The Chandigarh NRI cell was established here August 15 and is headed by a retired judge, with the senior superintendent of police (SSP), the UT's standing counsel and a representative of NRIs as its members.
The process of lodging a complaint is very simple, by either calling on the helpline number or sending the complaint in writing by post or e-mail. Complaints can also be filed through the officials of Indian embassies or high commissions abroad.
"We are also contacting various NRI associations abroad for setting up different chapters of Chandigarh NRI cell in the important cities of US, Britain and Canada. We hope to establish these centres in the next six months," said US-based Vikram Bajwa, who serves as the NRI's representative in the cell.
"On October 2 we are planning to conduct a video conference between the NRIs settled abroad and the officials of UT administration so that they can interact with each other and deliberate on various issues," Bajwa added.
According to the records of this cell, around 120,000 natives of Chandigarh are settled abroad.