(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The purpose of launching the website and a helpline for NRIs is to ensure the general welfare of NRIs from UP and in case of emergencies monitor their problems and coordinate with the central government.
Dubai: The north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) has rolled out a host of welfare measures which will benefit a large group of Indian expats from the state in the UAE.
The state government which formed an exclusive web portal for the NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) last month is set to send an official delegation to the UAE to further propagate the welfare plans for them and also help enhance the skills of workers from the state.
Principal Secretary NRI Affairs Department Sanjiv Saran told Khaleej Times (over the phone) from Lucknow that the recently formed department is on a mission to get the NRIs from UP in touch with the state when they require any help from the government and encourage their emotional bond with their motherland.
“The purpose of launching the website and a helpline for NRIs is to ensure the general welfare of NRIs from UP and in case of emergencies monitor their problems and coordinate with the central government. If they or their families have any problems they can contact us through our website or by telephone and we will assist them in whatever way possible” said Saran whose profile also includes the charge of Infrastructure and Industrial Development.
A migrant resource centre where NRIs can lodge their complaints 24X7 and seek advice is part of the welfare initiatives.
NRIs from the state can also apply for UP-NRI Card “which will identify them as NRIs and will help them get preferential treatment at government offices considering their limited time to finish off their paper works while on vacation.”
Talking specifically about the UAE Saran said the government decided to send a delegation here since there is a large number of expats from the state. “Around 175000 workers with Emigration Clearance Required stamp are working in the GCC countries and a large number of them are in the UAE. There are many businessmen as well. Once these people get the NRI cards we will have the data about their numbers and where they are working.”
He said the delegation will visit the UAE by the end of January. “The purpose of the visit is to meet the community members and also the heads of major construction companies to find out their requirements … how many people they require and what kinds of skills are required so that we can design courses here in India and people can be trained.”
He added that the state would host its first UP-NRI Day on February 28 and would honour prominent NRIs.
Expats from the state welcomed the initiatives. “I have visited the website www.upnri.com . This is a very good step to take care of NRIs. This will be a direct channel between the NRIs and the government so our problems can be handled better” said social worker Irfan Izhar from Sharjah.
“So far we didn’t have any direct medium to address our issues with the government and no platform to let us know the facilities and infrastructure available in our state. We are very happy with the new initiatives” Izhar said.
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