The Chief Minister of Punjab, Capt. Amarinder Singh, was in London last week to launch Punjab government’s global initiative in the UK. The initiative called ‘Connect with Your Roots’ (CYR) is aimed at 16-22 years old Punjabi-Origin students living abroad who wish to reconnect with their ancestral roots. It will particularly involve those students who have never been to India and would like to visit and interact with their fellow students in the universities in Punjab. The senior Congress leader also focused on Punjab as a state which is increasingly becoming lucrative for investments. He said, “Anyone interested in starting an industry in Punjab will have a single-window clearance within four days.”
The CYR initiative will have the state government organising 15-days’ tours of Punjab for groups of 15 once in every two months. Addressing the attendees in Punjabi, Capt. Amarinder said, “It is our desire through this initiative that the generation of youngsters who have only heard stories about Punjab or seen it on television get to really know Punjab and what we call ‘Punjabiyat’. We want them to judge the on-ground reality of today’s Punjab themselves. We want them to understand the aspirations of their counterparts too, in a conducive environment”.
In the first phase of the CYR programme, the countries to be covered will be Canada, the United States, Australia and European Union member countries. The first three groups in the initial six months will be from the UK. The cost of travel to and from India will have to be paid by the selected students and the Punjab Government will bear the rest. The Indian High Commission will publicise the initiative to the British Punjabi community in the UK, and will also extend help wherever needed, as mentioned by the High Commissioner, His Excellency Mr. Y.K. Sinha.
There will be a tailor-made itinerary for every group and will involve sight-seeing of historic sites in Punjab like the Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh and the Wagah Border, apart from suggested sites by the participants themselves, including their ancestral villages. The programme will require students to live in home-stays in village areas in Punjab for a few days. Capt Amarinder added, “These are not intended to be ‘political trips’ and anyone with an alliance with any party is welcome to visit and speak to whoever they wish.” The first tour is expected to begin as early as next month around Diwali or by November.
