A delegation of a little over 200 families hailing from Gujarat which have been residing in Haridwar for the past many decades has met the Gujarat chief minister and the deputy chief minister recently and demanded non-resident Gujarati (NRG) benefits. Notably, they have been running a number of pharmaceutical and other companies in the state.

On returning from Gujarat, members of the delegation Pawan Dave and Rajesh Pathak said on Monday that NRG cards would be made available for all the Gujarati residents of Haridwar soon. Notably, NRG Foundation issues such cards which help the people of Gujarati origin now settled outside the state to remain connected with their original state and the people living there.

It is learnt that there are some special privileges extended to the non-resident Gujaratis who have the cards like certain discounts at hotels, garments stores, jewelry shops and hospitals.

Speaking to The Pioneer on the visit, Kirtan Desai said, “We met the CM Vijay Rupani and the deputy CM Nitin Patel there. The chief minister appreciated our role in the progress of the state and asked us to be associated with the foundation to avail the benefits.”

He further said that the Uttarakhand government should take cue from the initiative. “It would give a sense of security to the natives of Uttarakhand who are settled outside the state. Besides, it would help them to maintain their emotional connection to the state they hail from.”