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."
At the end of the league phase of IPL 2024, an eliminator match will be played between
The world's largest vaccination campaign continues continuously in India. But some states have re
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting the United Arab Emirates on a two-day visit. Today he wi
Kolkata
West Bengal is going to vote on April 6 under the third phase in W
It has been two and a half years since the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, but its mystery has not
Permitting conflict of interest in BCCI against Public Policy: SC
New Delhi, Jan 22 (IANS) The Supreme Court Thursday held that public policy was not a static co
Serviceability of Sukhoi jets improving: Parrikar
New Delhi, March 17 (IANS) The serviceability of the Sukhoi SU-30MKI fighter jets have increase
Wednesday was a very frightening day in the country in terms of the coronavirus. On Wednesday, 2
Delhi HC sets aside Rs.3 lakh fine on Dikshit
New Delhi, Jan 6 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Tuesday set aside a trial court order imposing a f
The election for the post of Vice President is to be held on August 6. The last date for enrollme
