Chandigarh: The NRI is the flavour of the season. Close on the heels of Punjab government's NRI Sammelan comes another high-profile event aimed at addressing the concerns of the Indian diaspora. The event - Indian Diaspora: Migration and Development - is scheduled to be inaugurated by minister for overseas Indian affairs Vayalar Ravi on January 14 in the city. Significantly, the focus would be on Punjab, which is in urgent need of a new outlook to meet the expectations of its acclaimed expatriates. In fact, the occasion would offer an opportunity to consolidate and review the proposals emerging out the two-day NRI Sammelan. A galaxy of star speakers, including chief justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court Vijender Jain, are expected to elaborate on various problems being faced by the diaspora. He would be inaugurating a session aimed at discussing issues like illegal migration, NRI marriages, forced marriages, proxy marriages, custody of children and senior citizens. There would be a discussion on Punjab government's policies and procedures towards building a relationship with NRIs. Interestingly, the speakers would also take up a rather important and timely topic: ‘Can the diaspora be a strategic asset in the economic and social prosperity of Punjab'. With the state's finances in doldrums and the chief minister going full steam in inviting FDI for infrastructure development, the debate is likely to suggest ways and means to come out of the situation. Illegal migration ‘‘The event will sustain the momentum generated by NRI Sammelan and suggestions coming out of it will be considered by the government as mandated by Parkash Singh Badal,'' said HS Mattewal, Punjab advocate general. ‘‘Illegal migration is an important topic. The conference will lead to dissemination of information about legal ways of migrating,” said Ranjit Malhotra, consular correspondent of Italian Embassy for Punjab and Chandigarh