Successive governments in Punjab have only exploited the expatriate Punjabis for their narrow and selfish ends, never protecting their interests in the State. They are disillusioned, their love of their native land, notwithstanding. They could yet be inspired to look towards Punjab if their grievances are redressed, and they are treated with love and respect, and not merely as ATM machines.
Always during the election season, the ruling clique begins remembering the Non-Resident Punjabis. Whether the polls are for local bodies, like panchayats at the village level or for the State Assembly, political aspirants start sending invitations and cherishing reminiscences from the olden-golden days. They make it a point to entice them to Punjab, by offering alluring schemes because the NRIs wield considerably extraordinary influence over their relatives and close acquaintances living in Punjab.
The residents of the Bigger Palace i.e., the Central government initiates dialogue by facilitating various communication channels including organizing glittering Expatriate Conventions and Galas, where the crème de la crème drawn from the uppermost echelons are very selectively invited and are honored with impressive plaques and verbal encomiums from the rostrum. Some hollow promises (to be broken later) are gifted to the ‘elite NRIs. Nothing happens. Status-quo is maintained by the promise-makers. The Non-Resident Indians return to their adopted residences, empty-handed, after having emptied their coffers into the deep dark wellof party-funds. The Akali-BJP-combine assembled such annual extravaganzas, for several years, in order to attract the targeted NRIs while trying to prove a ‘spirit-of-camaraderie’ with them. Myriad dreams were woven and presented by the rulers. Promises were churned out to provide legal redress to the expatriates, pertaining to the latter’s properties, which had been usurped by their relatives, using forged documents.
The Congressoutfit had actively energized the NRI-Sabha in Jalandhar and had brought their chosen-ones into the limelight. This group in Jalandhar was optimally utilized by the Akalisduring their regime, with great enthusiasm. It was highlighted as the great well-wisher and trouble-shooter for the NRIs, but it turned out to be a damp-squib, when the Sabha-outfit became a puppet in the hands of Punjab bureaucracy with their ‘rightful-red-tape’ and a rubber-stamp of the politicians. After swallowing millions from the pockets of NRIs, no solace, succor and solutions were provided to resolve their issues.Their occupied properties were not restored to the NRIs. On the contrary, some vested interests including the mighty triumvirate of politicians, police, administrative-cadre, working in cohesive-tandem along with the land-mafia, enhanced the misery and pain of the NRIs, manifold and in multifarious ways. The corrupt system digested the hard-earned wealth of the expatriates, giving them false hopes. Astonishingly, many such NRIs who were unable to present themselves during the court-hearings, were shockingly pronounced declared-absconders. The list of such NRIs, who were defrauded by their own relatives, is pretty voluminous. They had no option but to reconcile with their plight and stay quiet about the whole messy imbroglio.NRI Sabha, NRI-Police stations and the newly instituted NRI-Cell could do absolutely nothing to provide even an iota of relief to the NRIs.
When the Akali-BJP government felt the need for financial support from NRIs, frequent appeals were made. Akalis opened a Single Window, whereby NRIs were encouraged to initiate business ventures and they did make really massive investments in their land of origin with the objective of improving the conditions in their native place, an ailing Punjab. However, the InspectorRaj did not let the motivated NRIs move forward with their noble plans and they had to return abroad, sans achieving anything substantial. Many NRIs opened charitable hospitals and made hefty donations to schools and colleges. Sports facilities were created whereby Tournaments, Heritage Fairs and Cultural Events were also organized to inspire the youth to engage in healthy lifestyle, shunning the menace of drugs. However, NRIs were made to fail in these divine endeavors and also in preventing the rise in cases of prevalence of the dreaded cancer. NRIs suffered financial losses, desperation, frustration, mental anguish and physical exhaustion. Many NRIs established engineering and management colleges, hotels, banquet and wedding halls. Their aim was not only to make monetary gains, but to revitalize the economy. But the situation is an open secret, as many such colleges are on the verge of closure.
After ruling the roost during his tenure of four years, Captain Congress team has, yet once again, felt the need of reaching out to NRIs. Congress was quite aghast with NRIs who had not openly voted for Aam Aadmi Party but also given it huge donations during the previous Assembly elections. It’s a different story, altogether, that Aam Aadmi Party failed to deliver, due to their infighting, and all dreams of NRIs were shattered, regarding refurbishing the economy.
The major areas which were of concern to the NRIs included overall growth, economic progress, rooting-out corruption, wiping-out drugs, enhancing employment avenues, prevention of suicides by desperate farmers and laborers. The NRIs had wished nobody would remain hungry and would get proper nourishment. Congress government in Punjab remained indifferentfor four years towards the NRIs. Congress remained evasive and did not facilitate elections in the NRI-Sabha, and all other NRI matters were ignored. Distances increased between Congress and NRIs, but the latter could not be totally sidelined as they have always had an immensely significant role to play in Punjab politics. Therefore, Congress conducted the elections to NRI-Sabha some time ago and appointed their close confidantes as honorary coordinators in USA, Canada, U.K. and Australia. Amongst these are Daljit Singh Sahota and Manjit Singh Nijjar in the U.K.; In the USA, Sarabjit Singh in California and Rajbir Singh Randhawa and others; Sukhminder Singh Khaira, Nachhatar Singh Kooner and others in Canada. NRI Commission has also been activated in Punjab, wherein a DGP rank official oversees the NRI matters. Punjab government has appealed to NRI Punjabis to contribute to the wellbeing of the State. The Minister for NRI-affairs, Gurmit Singh Sodhi appealed to them to lend a helping hand in reviving the economy. Now it remains to be seen how the NRIs would be welcomed by the politicians, bureaucracy and officialdom.
NRIs always wish for the wellbeing of Punjab. They have, always provided massive support to all movements emanating from Punjab. NRIs always provided heavy relief during droughts, floods or any natural calamity. When the central rulers wanted to impose the black laws upon the farming sector, NRI Punjabi groups having divergent ideologies in Canada, USA and UK forgot their rivalries and demonstrated cohesively in favor of the farmers. They were also campaigning pro-actively on the social media. NRIs owe their primary loyalties to their native Punjab. They feel and share the pain of Punjab as they realize that the youth is afflicted with the menace of drugs, unemployment and is flying abroad in search of greener pastures. The Centre has been depriving Punjab of its rich water resources. Cancer is rampant in Punjab. For all these reasons, NRI Punjabi community, individually and as part of conclaves, always come forward to happily discharge their responsibility, whenever a clarion-call is sent in their direction.
However, another discouraging factor is that government officials and some natives in Punjab misbehaved with NRIs, during the Corona-Covid pandemic, which thy are unable to forget. They were held in confinement, as if they were responsible for the widespread occurrence of the pandemic in Punjab. NRIs were given the impression that they were foreigners in their own motherland. Announcements were made against them; notices of solitary confinement were slapped outside their houses, and they faced humiliation in government offices. The public, too, misbehaved and became the cause for emotional distress of the NRIs. So, with such a backdrop, it is to be seen whether NRIs would respond favorably to the fresh invitation. If Punjab government is seriously contemplating a role for the NRIs in revival of the economy, then a comprehensive package needs to be given out as an incentive to make them feel welcomed and encouraged, just akin to such packages which any government would dole out to large industrial houses and to the corporate sector. Other factors which are quintessential pre-requisites include a 24-hour uninterrupted electricity supply, minimal interference of the InspectorRaj, concretized assurances pertaining to security provisions safeguarding NRIs from the trio which is unofficially ruling the State as a parallel government. All such measures could play a crucial role in motivating the NRIs to head towards Punjab with rejuvenated enthusiasm and bold initiatives, ventures and plans for growth of Punjab. Such bold schemes from the government can be easily offered. A recent example relates to a decision regarding Bathinda where land would be given out to Corporates for a paltry Rupee One, on a 33-year lease for Block Drug Parks, with the provision of an extendable period of lease up to 99 years. Two rupees per unit electric supply and One rupee per 1000 liters water supply would be provided, as per this plan. Punjab Cabinet has given their clearance. The price of the land where the park is envisioned, is to the tune of 3,000 crore rupees. The Centre shall allocate 1876 crore and Punjab State government will chip in 1000 crore.
The NRIs could be inspired to look towards Punjab if their grievances are redressed. They are looking forward to an affectionate, loving, respectful welcome, whereby their endeavors are appreciated with reciprocity of provision of requisite infrastructural facilitation and incentives which safeguard their investments. The NRIs want their offspring and future generations to return to Punjab with honor and pride to be inspired by massive noble, worthy contributions made by their ancestors.
If the Punjab government is pondering on the lines of exploring serious business, then :
1) Assurances should be forthcoming about various institutions like NRI-Sabha, NRI Commission, NRI Police department, NRI Court system
2) Protection must be provided for the land and properties of NRIs.
3) Safety of NRIs (their person and money) must be ensured, during the period of their stay in Punjab.
4) Cases must be withdrawn against Punjabi NRIs who were declared absconders
5) Special NRI-zone must be established at airports in Punjab, to cater to their proper hospitality.
6) The children of NRIs must be welcomed to the State, to let them relish the rich legacy of their ancestors and to taste the vibrancy of Punjabi hospitality culture, language, heritage and history.
Only then shall NRI Punjabis trust the government and the public of Punjab and would turn again towards Punjab to revive its economy. As of now, the NRIs get a feel that the government, relatives and friends are eager only to empty their pockets.
(The author, Gurmit Singh Palahi, is a retired principal and well-known columnist. He is currently President of Punjabi Columnists Patrakar Manch. He can be reached at gurmitpalahi@yahoo.com
The translator, Amarjit Singh Anand, is a thinker and writer.He can be reached at asa1ny@yahoo.com)