The North News
Chandigarh, April 21
Punjab’s Minister for NRI Affairs, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, on Monday said that since the programme began, the government has received 542 complaints, of which 488 have been resolved—a disposal rate of nearly 90%. The initiative aims to cut red tape and ensure swift redressal of issues commonly faced by NRIs, including property disputes, fraud, and administrative hurdles. Total 82 new complaints registered in the April session—63 via email and 19 through WhatsApp. “This is a unique model in the country, he added.
He said that Punjab is the only state that has institutionalised an online system to resolve issues faced by its NRIs,” Dhaliwal said. Dhaliwal urged members of the diaspora to send their concerns to nriminister2023@gmail.com or contact the NRI cell on +91 90560 09884 via WhatsApp. “I want to assure every NRI brother and sister that we are here for you,” he said. “You can meet me at any time that suits you. No grievance is too small.”
The meeting was attended by senior officials including Additional Chief Secretary Dilip Kumar and AIG Ajinder Singh of the Punjab Police’s NRI Wing, along with other officials from the NRI Affairs Department. The Aam Aadmi Party-led government in Punjab has been actively engaging with overseas Punjabis in a bid to rebuild trust and strengthen emotional and economic ties. Many NRIs, particularly those in Canada, the UK, and the United States, continue to maintain deep familial and property connections with Punjab.
Critics and supporters alike view the “NRI Milnee” as a strategic outreach—one that serves both governance and political optics. With growing interest in the 2027 assembly elections, diaspora goodwill may carry real political currency.
