(a) whether the Government has received any complaints from NRIs relating to their investment
in the country during the last three years and the current year;
(b) if so, the details thereof including the number of such complaints received during the said period;and
(c) the action taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS (SHRI VAYALAR RAVI)
(a) & (b) NRIs seek intervention of Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) to secure their rights and
interests in the properties owned (acquired or inherited) by them, particularly when they apprehend being
cheated or dispossessed of such property by fraudulent means. Their requests often relate to illegal
occupation of land/flat/apartment/house etc. by unscrupulous persons, delayed handing over of the promised
flats/apartments by builders/realtors/property dealers, delay in the settlement of related court cases etc.
Such complaints from NRIs are received by the Central and State Governments from time to time
(c)(i) At the instance of MOIA, special NRI cells have been created by many state governments, which have
substantial diaspora population to address their concerns, receive all complaints from NRIs/PIOs including
those related to property.
(ii) The requests received from NRIs/PIOs by the Ministry are forwarded to the concerned State Government
for appropriate action.
(iii) State Governments intervention to address such complaints are sought at the annual consultation
meetings held.
(iv) A seminar to discuss the property related issues of NRIs/ PIOs was organized during the Pravasi
Bharatiya Divas (PBD) – 2010 convention at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on 7th January, 2010. The
discussions covered the nature of the property disputes, the role of different government agencies
/private enterprises, measures to prevent such disputes including speedy disposal by way of setting
up of fast track courts etc. 300 NRIs attended the seminar.