SAD-BJP Punjab Govt. follows other States for NRI invetment

Los Angeles, Jan 07, 2007
Gary Singh

The State of Punjab has a large NRI population consisting of both well placed professionals all over the world and emigrant workers mostly in USA, Canada, and UK who have contributed significantly to Punjab’s socio-economic development. Most of the Punjabis realize that Govt. is not helping for the investment.

Our survey in North America conclude that NRI from Punjab are not very happy. More than 75% said, Punjab is not getting any investment because of red tape of bureaucrats and the problems related to land acquisition, power, roads and infrastructure facilities.

In the past, most of the time, NRI punjabi individual groups went to India for projects and came back without any success. We don't need to disscuss here, why..? Very professionals and entrepreneurs understand very well and make a comparsion with Haryana, Andra Pardesh and recently Gujrat on Map. Recent election, even great opposion, Mody won election because of his lyality toward his motherland Gujrat.

This year, Punjab Govt, looks serious and took steps by inviting NRI semmelan in Chandigarh and Punjab. Chandigarh and Jalandhar has been chosen in view of it being a prominent historical, cultural and commercial city of Punjab as well as a leading IT, bio-tech and high-tech destination.

On Jan 05, 2007, NRI semmelan was held in Taj Hotel, Chandigarh and second day, on Jan 06, in Jalandhar. On Jan 07, 2007, Mr. Majithia, Minister of Information & Public relations, arranged a lunch with NRI punjabi media.

Look just a example of Sant Singh Chhatwal, one of the leading hotelier of the USA, he was ready to spend Rs 1,500 crore to Rs 2,000 crore in hotel industry in Punjab provided he was not made to wait along the corridors of bureaucrats. He said, “I have a cheque book in my pocket and prepared to invest right now but the government should provide a right atmosphere for the same

President Kehar Singh Gill and general secretary Inderpal Singh Athwal, who have led a 150-member delegation from Canada to the Punjabi NRI sammelan being held on January 5 and 6 here, said, "The NRI sabha formed to assist the NRIs has failed in achieving any significant results owing to mismanagement and the functioning of the organisations was far from being transparent or satisfactory."

NRI legislator Jassi Khangura, Qila Raipur MLA in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha has asked the government to deal with NRI problems with earnestness. He made strong appeal to the ruling SAD-BJP, “Please don’t turn the forthcoming Punjabi NRI sammelan to be held at Chandigarh and Jalandhar on January 5 and 6 into a sweet-talking shop, oblivious of the needs of the NRI community.”

Now, SAD-BJP Govt. must not forget, this sammelan was attended by highly educated entrepreneurs and NRI political leaders of North America and UK, they require a result of this sammelan.