Punjab Govt’s Online NRI Facilitation Process Ensures Transparency, Hassle-Free Administration: DC Varjeet Walia

Jalandhar, May 19

Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Walia said that the Punjab Government has linked all important citizen services with the online system under its “Clean Administration” initiative to ensure transparent, corruption-free and hassle-free governance.

The Deputy Commissioner said that under this initiative, the embossing process of Power of Attorney (GPA/SPA) documents sent by Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) has also been made completely online through the ‘Service Plus Portal’. He informed that the government has fixed a clear fee structure for these services, including Rs. 2,000 for GPA, Rs. 1,000 for SPA and Rs. 1,600 for cancellation of documents. He added that these fees can only be paid online and no cash payment is accepted in any government office.

Walia said that it has come to the administration’s notice that executors residing abroad and their authorised attorneys in Jalandhar, due to lack of complete information about the simple online process, often fall prey to middlemen, agents and brokers. He said that such illegal elements are collecting huge amounts from applicants by falsely promising hassle-free processing of their work, which is a direct violation of the transparent system established by the government.

He said that the online system has been designed in a simple manner so that any person can complete the process independently by uploading PDF files of original documents, paying the prescribed fee online and booking an appointment as per convenience. To completely eliminate the interference of middlemen and prevent exploitation of the public, the Deputy Commissioner directed that no office employee or officer should entertain any document without the online process.
He also instructed the SSP (Vigilance) to maintain strict vigil on the illegal nexus of middlemen and brokers and to initiate immediate criminal action in case of any complaint related to corruption.

Further, the Deputy Commissioner directed the District Nazir to issue written instructions to all booth operators and typists working in the District Administrative Complex to charge only nominal fees for filling online forms. He warned that strict action would be taken against any operator found charging more than the prescribed fee or misleading the public.