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It has been notified from the chief minister’s office that NRI Sabha Punjab with its main office in Jalandhar is in existence after the approval of the chief minister of Punjab. The chief minister & the finance minister are respectively the patron & the vice patron of this sabha. The Deputy Commissioners of various districts have been authorised at district level for the smooth functioning of the sabha. No other committee or organisation is authorised in similar capacity in any division or district of the state.

Ref. Art. No. NNM – 0001/10/1999

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FORMATION OF NRI SABHA PUNJAB IN DISTT. NAWANSHAHAR

District unit of NRI Sabha, Punjab has been established at Nawanshahar. The main objectives of this unit are to redress the grievances of NRIs along with protecting & promoting their interests and associating them with the cultural roots at the local level.

Meetings are held every second Tuesday on all the issues pertaining to NRIs to discuss & redress their grievances with the close association of District Administration.

Ref. Art. No. NNM – 0002/10/1999

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LAND TENURE ACT AMENDED IN FAVOUR OF NRIs

The NRI Sabha Punjab has got the Land Tenures act amended in favour of the NRIs. The notification for this amendment was issued on 29^th Jan, 1998. Now, under this law, NRIs are given one time concession to get NRIs land vacated.

Ref. Art. No. NNM – 0003/10/1999

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LEGAL ADVICE AT NRIs DOOR STEPS

The executive committee of the NRI sabha sent two member delegation including S. Niranjan Singh and Mr. H.S. Rai to U.K., U.S.A. and Canada to provide on the spot legal guidance to NRIs. It was done after observing that most of the NRIs living abroad were ignorant of the basic legal position of their disputes and it was felt that they should be brought on the right track.

Ref. Art. No. NNM – 0004/10/1999

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ANNUAL CONVENTION TO CELEBRATE MILLENIUM 2000 AS THE YEAR OF NRIs

The fourth annual convention of NRI Sabha Punjab, will be held at Guru Gobind Singh Stadium, Jalandhar on Saturday, 9^th January, 2000 under the aegis of Government of Punjab. S. Prakash Singh Badal, Chief Minister of Punjab, will preside over the convention.

Ref. Art. No. NNM – 0005/10/1999

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NRI HELP LINE

The ‘NRI Help Line’ has been set up with a view of providing assistance of various types to help the NRIs during their visit to Punjab. The nodal units that have become functional w.e.f. March 1, 1996 are – Unit of Nabha House, New Delhi, Unit at Control Room, Chandigarh & Units at District Headquarters.

Ref. Art. No. NNM – 0006/10/1999

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NRIs PROPERTY SAVED FROM FRAUD

The property of an NRI Surmukh Singh, a resident of Nottingham (England) was saved from fraudulent sale at Nawanshahar. The brother of Surmukh Singh tried to sell his 11 acres of land with the help of false power of attorney documents. But the proposed rates of land were quite lesser in comparison to the actual rates, which led the officials into suspicion. Further enquiries revealed the facts and matter was reported to the police.

Ref. Art. No. NNM – 0007/10/1999

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THE NRI LADY CONTRIBUTED HER PENSION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF GURUDWARA

Bibi Kirpal Kaur, an NRI at U.K. has constructed a Gurudwara contributing her pension for it at village Bajwa Kalan near Shahkot. This work was started years ago by her late husband.

Smt. Baldeesh Kaur & Jagdish Kaur the two NRIs with their contributions constructed ‘S. Kapoor Singh Canadian Hospital’ in memorium of their late father at Distt. Nawanshahar.

Following Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s mission ‘Everyone’s Welfare’, NRI Punjabis constructed Guru Nanak Mission Hospital at Dhahan Kaleran at Banga – Phagwara G.T. Road. The land was donated by the village Panchayat and the NRIs contributions led to the construction of a Hospital with 150 bed capacity for helping the poor and the needy.

Another unnamed NRI contributed fifteen thousand Rupees for the renovation of the dispensary at village Hiyala.

For creating more educational facilities at Distt. Nawanshahar, "Amardeep Singh Sher Gill College" was established at village Mukandpur which costed above 2.5 millions of Rupees.

Ref. Art. No. NNM – 0008/10/1999

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S. DARSHAN SINGH SANDHU IS NO MORE

Member of NRI Sabha Punjab, S. Darshan Singh Sandhu left for his heavenly abode on 10^th July, 1999 at 64 years of age. He was one of the few sikhs who got the honour of M.B.E., which was conferred to him by the Queen of England Elezabeth.

Ref. Art. No. NNM – 0009/10/1999

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THE CHIEF MINISTER IS GRATEFUL TO THE NRIs

The chief minister of Punjab, S. Prakash Singh Badal in his message to the NRIs, expressed his gratitude towards them. He said that by turning up at Khalsa foundation day celebrations in such a large number, the NRIs have shown their love & attachment with their land. He has appealed to them to invest more in the country and has asked them to send their children also to Punjab promising that Govt. of Punjab will help them in every possible way.

Ref. Art. No. NNM – 0010/10/1999

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SPECIAL BUILDINGS FOR NRIs TO BE CONSTURCTED

Presiding over a meeting for organising the working committee of the NRI Sabha Nawanshahar, Chairman of the NRI Sabha Mr. B.K. Srivastava said that special buildings for facilitating the NRIs will soon be constructed in each district. He also said that the work of NRIs will be given priority.

Ref. Art. No. NNM – 0011/10/1999

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P.I.O. CARDS INTRODUCED

The Govt. of India has now approved the P.I.O. (Person of Indian Origin) Cards for the NRIs. These grey coloured cards have the following features :-

1. The Persons of Indian Origin who have changed their citizenship living abroad will benefit from this card.
2. The persons of India Origin in the whole world can get these cards from the Indian embassies on submitting US$ 1000 or equivalent amount, for twenty years.
3. The formalities for getting visas for India will be removed. People from Pakistan & Bangladesh only have not been covered under this scheme.
4. With this card, the holder will now be able to participate in Economical, Educational & Cultural activities of the country. The card holder will be getting all those facilities that the other NRIs who have Indian passports, avail.
5. Except Jammu & Kashmir, they can buy or sell their immovable property in India.
6. To make their visit more convenient, the card holders are allowed to stay at India upto 180 days in one visit.

Ref. Art. No. NNM – 0012/10/1999

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NRIs HELPED THE GOVT. FOR INSTALLING PLANT

The Foundation stone for a plant to be installed near Jalandhar for preparing potato-flour has been laid by the Chief Minister of Punjab, S. Prakash Singh Badal. This plant has been started jointly by Sh. P.S. Sangh & Sons Co., Punjab Agro Industries Corporation and Nelez – a famous Canadian company, which will start the production in March, next year.

Ref. Art. No. NNM – 0013/10/1999

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NRIs CASES WILL GO TO ONE JUDICIAL COURT

The NRI Sabha Punjab has requested Mr. Justice R.S. Mongia (Punjab & Haryana High Court) to take some steps for the speedy disposal of NRIs matters pending in judicial courts. They have made following proposals :-

1. Civil as well as criminal cases, where the NRIs are involved should be entrusted to one judicial officer.
2. It should be impressed upon all the judicial officers dealing with the cases where the NRIs are involved to accommodate the NRIs to the fullest extent when they come on short leave while visiting their country.
3. District judges may call upon the judicial officer dealing with the NRIs cases to submit separate progress statement in the cases which are over one year old.
4. So far as possible comparatively shorter adjournment be given in NRIs cases, as they have to come from the foreign country to persue their cases.
5. Take any other suitable action/issue instructions to ensure speedy, expeditious and sympethetic disposal of matters related to NRIs.

Ref. Art. No. NNM – 0014/10/1999

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IMPROVED JUDICIAL SYSTEM PROMISED FOR NRIs

The Chairman of NRI Sabha Sh. B.K. Srivastava, in an interview has told that the objectives of NRI Sabha Punjab mainly include to protect the rights of the NRIs & their families & to help them in their cases, their conflicts and other personal problems. The other objectives are to keep the NRIs in touch with their land & culture. The NRIs who are planning to invest or settle back in Punjab, the Sabha will guide them in each & every field. He also talked about the various problems faced by the NRIs regarding their property and informed that the Sabha has spoken to the Chief Minister for enacting a new law favouring NRIs to get their land vacated which is illegally occupied. They are also trying to get section 31 of FERA amended; which will enable NRIs to sell or buy property in India.

Ref. Art. No. NNM – 0015/10/1999