Canadian Punjabis have two hearts, says British Columbia legislator
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 29
“Canadian Punjabis have two hearts — one beats for their present abode while the other beats for their motherland — but one soul. They may have been very successful overseas but inside somewhere they always nurse a desire to come back and settle down in Punjab,” says Jagrup Singh Brar, three-time member of the Provincial Parliament of British Columbia.
Representing the New Democratic Party, the main Opposition party, he says a vast majority of Punjabi immigrants who reached Canada in the early 70s and have either retired or are about to retire now want to come back so that their motherland could benefit from their experiences and expertise they attained during their lifetime.
“But the apprehension that their return or investments back home may not be secure is keeping them undecided. I did not know till I met some senior civil officials here that under a new law, NRIs can get back at least one of their properties for their personal use within six months of moving the court.
“If such securities are ensured, I am sure many would like to return with their life savings,” claims Jagrup Brar, who had to quit as Assistant Director in the Department of Youth Services, Punjab, before immigrating to Canada in 1991. A national-level basketball player, Jagrup had the distinction of representing the 1984 Punjab men’s basketball team that wrested back the national title in 1984.
While Canadian Punjabis are ready, Punjab is perhaps still not ready for them. There is now an urgent need for building bridges between Punjabis of Canada and here, suggests Jagrup Brar, holding that “our community has been a great success everywhere because of its hard work, dedication and commitment. Now it is for us to assimilate Canadian Punjabis back in our system.”
Other than the security of their investments, including property in Punjab, Punjab needs to invest in a responsive and effective healthcare system that can look after the sick on the lines of the Canadian healthcare system.
Talking to The Tribune here, Jagrup Brar says that since the focus on immigration has shifted from family-oriented policies to a skill-based point system, India in general and Punjab in particular would do well if the youth is trained in areas of requirement of employers in Canada.
India and Punjab’s biggest resource is youth power. By 2011, 50 per cent of the population of India will be below 25. This gives them a great potential of meeting the world’s workforce requirements. Instead of getting cheated by travel agents, the youth should use IT tools to know how and where they can go legally by using the skills they have acquired during their training and education.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/business-and-lifestyle/28704-canadian-punjabis-have-two-hearts-says.htmlReference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=28704
He says the evaluation of credentials is one area where a lot of work has been continuously done. It will be prudent for those planning to immigrate to Canada to go through self-help guides that are printed in English and different languages for the benefit of new immigrants.
Jagpal S Tiwana
Dartmouth, Canada
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