Lucknow, Jul 10 (IANS): The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to set up an NRI cell for people from the state to track their growth and safety and also look into issues such as health, says Labour Minister Waqar Ahmad Shah.

"A large number of people from Uttar Pradesh are settled in Gulf countries or have gone there for jobs and face problems," Shah told IANS Tuesday.

Instructions, he said, had been issued to all district magistrates in the state to collect data on the number of people from each district who are overseas. The special cell for NRIs would also inform on possibilities of employment if and when they decide to come back to the state.

"There are many situations like that of safety, health and communication with relatives back home that need to be attended to. All such issues would be addressed through the special NRI cell," the minister added.

Budgetary provisions were being made for creation of such a cell, he said.