NRI helpdesks at Vigilance Bureau in Punjab

CHANDIGARH: NRI helpdesks will be set up at vigilance bureau headquarters while six vigilance ranges in Amritsar and Ludhiana among other places in Punjab will become functional within one month.

Instructions to this effect were today given by Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh to enable NRIs to file complaints of harassment or corruption against government officials.

The other vigilance ranges are at Jalandhar, Patiala, Bathinda and Ferozepur.

Expressing concern over NRIs being harassed in property cases, Badal said 75 per cent of NRI complaints pertained to property disputes with their relatives and 25 per cent were matrimonial disputes involving overseas marriages.

Calling for an effective legislation that would allow NRIs to get the possession of the property after returning to their motherland, Badal said the NRI Department should submit the draft law within one month.

Expressing concern over illegal Punjab-based immigrants languishing in jails in various countries, Badal asked the NRI Department to conduct a census of such people for getting them released. He also asked the department to create a special legal cell to help such victims.