Punjab nominates Bains as nodal officer for amnesty scheme

In a letter to Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal apprised him of Bains being nominated as the single point nodal officer, a Punjab government release said today.

Bains has been appointed on the advice of the Centre that a nodal officer oversee the scheme.

A two-month amnesty has been announced by the UAE government asking illegal residents to either leave the country without penalty or regularise their visas.

UAE has declared the amnesty from December 4, 2012, to February 3, 2013.

The Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi, and Consulate General of India, Dubai, have been asked to ensure hassle-free return of Indians in UAE who seek benefit of the amnesty scheme.

Ravi had recently wrote to Badal requesting him to nominate some authority as a single point nodal officer for this purpose, besides making provision for free air-tickets to the needy and deserving workers from Punjab who were permitted to leave UAE under the amnesty scheme.

He had also informed Badal that Indians staying illegally were required to report to Embassy or Consulate for emergency certificates, which were issued after establishing the nationality of the individual.

In many cases, the mission was required to contact the state governments to verify the details submitted by the individuals at a short notice.