Broken promises, high crime rate keep NRIs from investing in state
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Land mafia targeting their property here emerges as one of the biggest concerns
In sharp contrast with Gujarat, the diaspora from Punjab is reluctant to invest in the state and squarely blames the government for not fulfilling the promises dished out to NRIs more than three years ago. NRIs also point out that lack of security and an active land mafia, which targets the land owned by them, was one of the biggest hurdles in investments from abroad in the state.
The state government had launched a scheme in which if an NRI contributes 25 per cent for a development project at his native place, the government financed the remaining 75 per cent share but there are hardly any takers for it. One of the NRIs, Dr Gurdev Gill from Canada, who made substantial contribution and initiated developmental works in 13 places to prpvide for underground sewerage, drinking water supply and solar lighting, said he is keen to undertake more such projects but rues that “There are too many hassles and red-tapism. The government officials do not let us work and give us a free hand. We are putting our money but their matching grant comes very late and the material gets damaged. The government has to change its mindset,’’ he adds.
