The Greater Washington Telugu Cultural Sangam (GWTCS) has raised a crucial call to the Andhra Pradesh government, urging the establishment of a comprehensive grievance redressal mechanism for Telugu NRIs living abroad. With a large diaspora facing various legal and administrative challenges, such a system is seen as essential for protecting the rights and interests of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs).
Drawing inspiration from the proactive measures taken by the Punjab government, GWTCS believes that Andhra Pradesh can similarly safeguard its overseas citizens.
During the GWTCS 50th-anniversary celebrations held on September 27 and 28 in Washington, D.C., a delegation led by Bulleiah Choudary Unnava, a prominent NRI of Guntur origin, along with Krishna Lam, President of GWTCS, submitted a detailed memorandum to Kondapalli Srinivas, Minister for NRI Affairs, who was present at the event. The memorandum highlighted the urgent need for an NRI grievance redressal mechanism in Andhra Pradesh, similar to the model successfully implemented by Punjab.
The Need for an Andhra Pradesh NRI Grievance Redressal System
Speaking to The Hindu, Bulleiah Choudary outlined the myriad issues OCIs face when dealing with matters back home in Andhra Pradesh. These issues range from safeguarding properties to resolving land disputes, matrimonial issues, fraud by travel agents, and even harassment by foreign employers. He emphasized the difficulty NRIs encounter, especially since they often visit their home country for a short period, limiting their ability to resolve such complex problems efficiently.
One of the key suggestions was the establishment of fast-track courts dedicated to resolving OCI disputes. This would significantly accelerate the legal process, allowing NRIs to achieve resolution more efficiently. Bulleiah Choudary further proposed that each district in Andhra Pradesh should have a designated NRI police officer or even an OCI police station to address these concerns directly.
Such measures, he argued, would provide greater accessibility and faster response times for OCIs who otherwise struggle with prolonged legal processes during their limited stays in India.
A Digital Approach to OCI Complaints
Another significant proposal raised by the Telugu OCIs was the acceptance of digital complaints. Bulleiah Choudary pointed out that police in Andhra Pradesh should be empowered to investigate digital submissions from OCIs without insisting on their physical presence for filing complaints or providing evidence. This, he explained, would alleviate the burden on OCIs who often cannot remain in India for long periods to attend to legal proceedings in person.
A shift toward a digital grievance redressal system, in line with global digital advancements, would streamline the process and make justice more accessible for the Telugu diaspora.
Learning from Punjab: A Successful Model
The memorandum presented by GWTCS underscored the success of the Punjab government’s NRI redressal framework, urging Andhra Pradesh to adopt similar measures. Punjab, which boasts a significant NRI population, established the Punjab State Commission for NRIs in 2011, which has been pivotal in resolving OCI issues.
The Commission introduced several initiatives such as the creation of 13 dedicated NRI police stations, fast-track revenue courts, and special civil courts to expedite legal processes for NRIs. Additionally, Punjab amended its Urban Rent Control Act, making it easier for OCIs to evict tenants from their properties swiftly.
The Telugu NRIs advocated for Andhra Pradesh to adopt a similar act, emphasizing the need for protecting Telugu youth from fraud, human trafficking, and other migration-related crimes. With increasing cases of students and workers being duped by unscrupulous travel agents, the GWTCS stressed that Andhra Pradesh must take preventive measures to shield its people from such exploitation.
Minister’s Assurance for Future Action
In response, Minister Kondapalli Srinivas assured the delegation that he would take the matter to the Andhra Pradesh government for further deliberation. He acknowledged the importance of addressing the concerns of OCIs and pledged to explore the possibility of establishing a dedicated grievance redressal mechanism, promising that their voices would not go unheard.
Also Read:Harsha Walia: The Revolutionary Activist Fighting Border Imperialism and Injustice