Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 2 (IANS) Kerala will present its progress card on what it has done for the diaspora and then ask for the centre's help for its plans, Diaspora Minister K.C.Joseph said Friday.
Joseph will be part of a Kerala delegation at the Pravasti Bhartiya Divas (PBD) to be held in Gujarat capital Gandhinagar from January 7 to 9.
Joseph Chief Minister Oommen Chandy would lead the delegation and there would be a Kerala Pavilion at the three-day event which will showcase "our advantages to the visiting diaspora".
"See, Kerala is probably the only state that has led from the front to support its diaspora, whenever there arose an occasion. There are limitations for a state and currently we have launched a rehabilitation package for those who have returned from the Middle-East. It's here we seek the Centre to support us financially when we draw up special schemes," the minister told IANS.
Of the 23.63 lakh Keralites who went abroad, 90 percent are in various Middle-East countries. Close to 13 lakhs have returned from these countries.
According to the latest figures from the State Level Bankers Committee, the total remittances made by the Kerala diaspora to the banks here has crossed Rs.1 lakh crores.
"The chief minister will be speaking on January 9 at the chief minister's session. He will touch upon the issue of giving necessary sanction for our proposal to start our own airline- Air Kerala and also on the hefty air fares being charged by airlines operating to the Middle-East," Joseph said.
According to the minister, the Kerala government is perhaps the only state government which recently has come out with a financial assistance package for the members of diaspora who have returned.
"We along with two public sector banks have launched a self employment scheme and by now more than 20,000 people have applied for it. The maximum cap on loans would be Rs. two million and the Kerala government would offer a 10 percent subsidy to all those who begin an enterprise in the agriculture, trading, manufacturing or the service sectors," he said.
Joseph, who would present Kerala's progress card in the Gulf Session, scheduled for January 9, also said: "The Kerala Pavilion will showcase investment opportunities for the visitors and tourism, IT would be the key areas."
IRCTC / Indian Railways News: Railways can run 300 special trains during lockdown This is condition
The third phase of lockdown is going on across the country from May 4, which will run till May 17
The rain of calamity has stopped in Uttarakhand. Now slowly the reality of the loss is coming to
Hindi Publishers adopt Technology, New Strategies to Revamp Business (Literary Feature)
New Delhi, Feb 22 (IANS) Hindi language publishers are adapting - and how - by offering fresh c
Pakistan defeated South Africa in the T20 World Cup to keep their hopes of entering the semi-fina
A case of 'Bigg Boss OTT 2' winner Elvish Yadav receiving threats has come to light. Extortion ha
Wazid Khan suffering from corona virus dies of heart attack, will be delivered shortly
Mumbai: Wajid Khan of famous music duo Sajid-Wajid died of a heart attack on Sunday night. Althou
After the defeat in the Lord's Test, once again the discussions have gained momentum whether fast
Pakistani players will not be able to play in Big Bash League, PCB refuses to give NOC
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has refused its players to play in the Big Bash League (BBL) sea
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held a review meeting with Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of
Government to set up 2.5 lakh common service centres
New Delhi, March 10 (IANS) The government has proposed to set up 2.5 lakh common service centre
