By IANS,
Chandigarh: Punjab will conduct a unique census to identify Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) from the state.
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is also the minister in charge of NRI’s affairs, Tuesday ordered a comprehensive census of NRIs from Punjab.
“This is being done so that schemes for their welfare can be initiated in a well coordinated manner,” Badal said here.
Badal issued the instructions for the NRI census during his interaction with Belfast (Ireland)-based NRI and philanthropist, Lord Diljit Rana.
“All deputy commissioners in Punjab will be asked to start a door-to-door survey in every village, town and city of Punjab for compiling most detailed data bank of all the NRIs hailing from Punjab in their respective districts,” Badal said.
Over 2 million (20 lakh) Punjabis are living abroad – the majority in Canada, US, Britain, Europe and south-east Asian countries.
Badal said the compiled data would be posted on the government’s website on NRIs so that they can access it and update it.
Lord Rana, who belongs to Sanghol village, 30 km from here, known for its ancient Harappan links, offered to set up a world-class university at the village.