Abolish sewa-paani culture in govt offices, NRIs urge DC

JALANDHAR: The maiden special camp to redress the grievances of non-resident Indians (NRIs) caused embarrassment to officials of the district administration when many NRIs told them to abolish the “sewa-paani” culture in government departments.

NRIs at a meeting with the administration at the DC office in Jalandhar on Tuesday. Tribune photo

Jalandhar, February 20

The maiden special camp to redress the grievances of non-resident Indians (NRIs) caused embarrassment to officials of the district administration when many NRIs told them to abolish the “sewa-paani” culture in government departments.

This initiative of the state government, led by Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, got a lukewarm response from the Punjabi diaspora as a few NRIs turned up at the venue of this first-ever special redress camp organised by the government.

Though the event was planned to ensure on-the-spot solution of problems faced by these NRIs, officials claimed helplessness in providing speedy solutions to many of them who raised concerns pertaining to police cases.

Avtaar Singh (92), hailing from Canada, said his brother had encroached over 10 acres of his land in Khusropur village and despite highlighting the matter to officials in the past many years, he could not get it vacated.

Another NRI Kirpal Singh from New Zealand batted for the revival of the Punjab NRI Sabha to address concerns of NRIs. Santosh Sehgal, another NRI, said he and his wife had bought a flat from the Jalandhar Improvement Trust many years ago which was illegally occupied by someone. The couple had urged the Deputy Commissioner (DC) to get it vacated as they wanted to settle back in India due to their poor health condition.

The DC said the sole aim of the entire exercise was to ensure the quick disposal of the cases of NRIs. He ordered officials to accord priority to the complaints received in the camp and ensure their early resolution.

He said this pro-people exercise was result-oriented so that the NRIs did not face any sort of problem. Sharma said he would hold periodic review meetings later on to take stock of the pendency list of all these matters.

The DC reiterated that NRIs should play a proactive role in the holistic development of the state and prosperity of its people. He said NRIs could play an important role in the development of the state as there were many fields in which active support of the NRIs could transform the destiny of residents of their motherland. — TNS