Chandigarh October 4:
To counter the aggressive wooing of 2.5 million-strong NRI community from Punjab by Congress and People's Party of Punjab ( PPP), the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP government in Punjab on Monday afternoon circulated a draft bill for setting up a NRI commission, apparently to win over the community that has considerable influence in the Doaba belt -- where the ruling alliance fears it's losing grip.
The performance in this belt may make or mar the chances of forming a government in Punjab by any party. "While the cabinet earlier decided to bring just Right to Services (RTS) Act, it circulated a draft bill on NRI commission on Monday," official sources told reporters. The timing of the bill is obvious as it seems to be aimed at a constituency which the ruling alliance's opponents are aggressively wooing to reap benefits in the Doaba belt -- which the Congress is trying to snatch away from the ruling alliance.
Political strategists said that though only 66 NRIs have registered themselves as voters in entire Punjab, yet their influence in their villages and economy is immense. As such, their concerns and aspirations need to be accommodated sooner than later, they said. The government recently had even given the RTS an NRI twist, saying it will benefit NRIs the most as they are often fleeced by government officials by delaying disposal of NRIs' work. Now, RTS guarantees 67 services within prescribed time limits. The Act is coming at a time when NRIs visit the country for annual vacations and for rural sports like kabaddi.
The government had set the ball rolling in June to set up the commission, almost six months after it promised NRIs at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas meeting that such a commission would be set up. It is, however, not clear as to how the commission will impact the multiple agencies meant for NRIs - NRI ministry, NRI police stations, NRI Sabha and NRI courts.
To counter the aggressive wooing of 2.5 million-strong NRI community from Punjab by Congress and People's Party of Punjab ( PPP), the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP government in Punjab on Monday afternoon circulated a draft bill for setting up a NRI commission, apparently to win over the community that has considerable influence in the Doaba belt -- where the ruling alliance fears it's losing grip.
The performance in this belt may make or mar the chances of forming a government in Punjab by any party. "While the cabinet earlier decided to bring just Right to Services (RTS) Act, it circulated a draft bill on NRI commission on Monday," official sources told reporters. The timing of the bill is obvious as it seems to be aimed at a constituency which the ruling alliance's opponents are aggressively wooing to reap benefits in the Doaba belt -- which the Congress is trying to snatch away from the ruling alliance.
Political strategists said that though only 66 NRIs have registered themselves as voters in entire Punjab, yet their influence in their villages and economy is immense. As such, their concerns and aspirations need to be accommodated sooner than later, they said. The government recently had even given the RTS an NRI twist, saying it will benefit NRIs the most as they are often fleeced by government officials by delaying disposal of NRIs' work. Now, RTS guarantees 67 services within prescribed time limits. The Act is coming at a time when NRIs visit the country for annual vacations and for rural sports like kabaddi.
The government had set the ball rolling in June to set up the commission, almost six months after it promised NRIs at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas meeting that such a commission would be set up. It is, however, not clear as to how the commission will impact the multiple agencies meant for NRIs - NRI ministry, NRI police stations, NRI Sabha and NRI courts.
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