Punjab sets NRI quota to boost investment

The state has set aside 10% quota for Punjabi diaspora in all PUDA-approved schemes and industrial estates

To make NRIs partners in the progress and prosperity of the state, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said under the new housing and investment policy, the state had set aside 10 per cent quota for Punjabi diaspora in all PUDA(Punjab Urban Development Authority)-approved schemes and industrial estates, besides setting up a separate link to fast-track approval in the industrial investment portal.

He said that with the concerted efforts of all departments this major promise has been made a reality.

Impressing upon the need for taking care of the families of NRIs, Badal said that he has issued directions to increase the marriage registration officer from registered 22 to 190 so as to expedite the registration of their marriages, understanding the limited time available to them during their stay in the country.

Describing compulsory registration of marriages and Human Smuggling Acts as path breaking acts, Badal said that with the compulsory marriage registration act, we will be able to tackle fraudulent marriages by NRIs and with the Human Smuggling Act, we would be able to tackle the menace illegal travel agents, playing with the lives and hard earned money of Punjabi youth, who were being lured to foreign lands on illegal permits.

Also, it was decided that one more NRI Police Stations have been opened in NRI dominant districts including Amritsar. He said that instructions have already been issue to seek approval of DSP before registering any FIR against NRI to check bogus complaints. The Home Department informed that Punjab and Haryana High Court has been requested to setup three Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate Courts at Moga, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur and an Appellate Court at Jalandhar for civil and criminal cases of NRIs and requisite funds have been provided for the same.