Perks galore for NRIs, as K’taka govt announces new policy in run up to Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

The annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention, has come to Bengaluru for the first time. And ahead of the event, the Karnataka NRI forum and the Commerce and Industries Department have formulated a new NRI policy for the state. “The policy aims at forging a mutually beneficial relationship between the NRIs who are from Karnataka. It is formulated in order to attract investments from NRIs and these investors will also be given incentives,” Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said. As part of the new policy, an NRI Forum has been formed, and an exclusive helpline has been set up to provide advisory services for NRIs on mobilisation of investments, acquiring and disposing property, grievance redressal and for registering complaints. The new policy also includes the formation of a welfare committee for non-resident Indians and non-resident Kannadigas (NRK). The committee will be headed by the Deputy Commissioner and will include the District Superintendent of Police, Assistant Commissioner and Tahsildar of the respective districts. An interactive cloud-based website will also to be set up for maintaining a database of NIRs and NRKs across the world. An e-dictionary of registered members will be made available online, and diaspora members will be connected on all social media platforms as well. “NRK cards will be issued to them with a view to connect every Kannadiga. NRKs can avail discounts at hotels, jewellery showrooms and hospitals. NRIs and NRKs will also be offered special tourism packages during their visits to India,” Siddaramaiah said. The Commerce and Industries Department has also set up the Karnataka Udyog Mitra to attract investments from NRIs. The KUM is authorised to grant clearances for proposals, land allotment and submission of regulatory documents for NRIs. “The Karnataka government is also offering various incentives to attract investments. The Karnataka Industrial Policy 2014-19 will offer incentives for NRIs who invest above Rs 250 crore,” said RV Deshpande, Minister for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development. Additionally, the NRI Forum will work with the India Development Foundation of Overseas Indians to engage NRIs in social and developmental projects in India. The state government has also set up a support service centre for NRIs and NRKs and queries will be attended to in eleven Indian languages including Hindi, English, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Marathi, Odia, Kannada and Bengali. The support centre will register complaints, collect information regarding emigration and will work along with the Ministry of External Affairs to extend legal services to NRIs and NRKs who have been stranded by employers, imprisoned for petty offences or who have been ill-treated and assist Indian women who have been deserted by their overseas Indian spouses.