Bihar govt to help NRIs trace their roots

NRIs of Bihari origin settled abroad for several generations will now be able to trace their roots which might also encourage some of them to invest in the state.

Targeted at NRIs, particularly those from Fiji, Surinam and Mauritius whose forefathers migrated there as indentured labourers, the 'Trace Your Roots' package has been formulated by the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) in
association with the deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi-headed Bihar Foundation, said chairperson and managing director of BSTDC, Rashmi Verma.

The Foundation would arrange "research facilities" for the NRIs interested in knowing about the place of origin of their ancestors, Verma, also the principal secretary of the
tourism department, said.

NRIs coming to the state in search of their roots would be given a complete package including food, lodging and travel, she said.

Hoping that the scheme would also give a fillip to tourism in the state, she said, "the idea is to give an incentive to NRIs to come to Bihar and at the same time give a fresh impetus to the sector."

"And, this may have a positive impact on the investment front too as the NRIs could also think of investing in the state," Verma said.

She said, last December the state tourism department and the Corporation set up a special counter at a NRI-meet in Chennai where people of Bihari origin, particularly those from Fiji, Surinam and Mauritius had shown enthusiasm in inquiring about their roots.