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."
Symptoms like high fever and shivering are being seen in children infected with Covid-19. Pediatr
Over 100,000 invites for Mulayam kin's pre-wedding ceremony
Etawah, Feb 19 (IANS) A staggering 100,000 invites, including to Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
Liam Payne is meaty: Niall Horan
Los Angeles, Feb 6 (IANS) One Direction band member Niall Horan finds his bandmate Liam Payne "m
Sanatan Dharma Row: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin's son and Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin's c
The people of Pakistan, who are living in a severe economic crisis, lack of essential things, and
IND W vs PAK W Head To Head: India's dominance over Pakistan, 100 percent record in World Cup
India Women's vs Pakistan Womens: The ICC Women's World Cup 2022 is going to start on March 4 wit
The account information of more than 28 crore account holders of Provident Fund (PF) has been lea
Hathras case: why the family did not get the medical report
Two youths are standing some distance away from the alleged gang rape in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh.
If you also felt that the coronavirus is gone now, then the reports coming out these days must ha
The match between Pakistan and New Zealand will be played in the T20 World Cup from 7.30 pm on Tu
