Special police cell mooted for safety of NRI properties

New Delhi, Jan 7 (UNI) The Overseas Indian Affairs (OIA) Ministry will ask all the states to set up a special cell in the police department to look into complaints regarding grabbing of land and other properties of the Non-Resident Indians in their home states.

OIA Minister Vayalar Ravi today assured the delegates of a session on the Gulf, organised as part of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, that he would write letters to Chief Ministers asking them to ensure early constitution of such a cell.

"I have received several complaints from NRIs alleging that their houses and lands were grabbed in their own home towns. It is a serious matter. I am aware that all these properties were bought by the NRIs with their hard earned money," he said while winding up a three-hour-long discussion on issues of the NRI in the West Asia.

Mr Ravi announced that though four "Pravasi Centres" were originally proposed to be set up abroad, clearance had been given to set up only one. This would be located in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. "The process for the setting up of this would be expedited once the new Consul General takes charge in Dubai within a week," he added.

He, however, said all the foreign countries with predominant Indian population would soon have a Director for Community Welfare in the Embassy or Consulate. They would be the officials of the OIA Ministry, but would work under the Ministry of External Affairs.

Mr Ravi said he had already discussed the proposal with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee who had given "in-principle" clearance for the appointment of Community Welfare Director.

On the complaint of the NRI delegates from the Gulf that undue importance was being given to the PIOs, especially those from the United States, at the ongoing diaspora meet, Mr Ravi said there was no basis in this. "The Gulf is our major segment. The welfare of the NRIs is the uppermost in our scheme of things." Mr Ravi said there was no plan to ban migration of housemaids, though the emigration of those below 30 years of age would be made strict in order to avoid harassment in their host states.

On the announcement of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about the formation of an Overseas Facilitation Centre for attracting investment from overseas Indians, he said it would be on the model of the "India Brand Equity Foundation." Referring to the constitution of a Central Council for the Promotion of Overseas Employment, also proposed by Dr Singh, he said this mechanism was intended for coordination between India and countries receiving manpower.

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