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."
One more dies of swine flu in Bengal, toll now 14
Kolkata, March 9 (IANS) One more swine flu death was reported in West Bengal since Sunday, taki
There is continuous rhetoric regarding the statement of Infosys founding member Narayan Murthy ab
An autorickshaw driver's luck has shone in Kerala. He has got a lottery of 25 crores in Onam Bump
The village of pro-democracy monks was set ablaze by the Myanmar army last year in 2021. This is
Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by 246 runs in the second match of the two-match Test series. This de
PM Modi predicts disaster with practical experience: Nityanand Rai
New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Home Nityananda Rai says that Prime Minister Narendra Modi
What is E-SIM and how does it work? Which handset has the facility to fit it, know everything
Technology is advancing rapidly in the country and the world. New technology is being seen in thi
The conflict over cricket between India and Bangladesh is escalating ahead of the T20 World Cup 2
India and Sri Lanka agree to intensify bilateral military exercises, review defense cooperation
India and Sri Lanka agreed to intensify bilateral military exercises. Along with this, resolved t
There has been a major reshuffle at the management level in Mukesh Ambani's company Reliance Jio