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."
Aamir Khan salutes Park Street rape victim's courage
Kolkata, March 14 (IANS) Condoling the passing away of the Park Street rape survivor, who died
It has been rumored for a long time that Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor and actress Alia Bhatt are
Guarding the India-China border will now be done by such soldiers who will be more capable of fig
For the first time as a political party, the Congress Working Committee is meeting in Patna. This
A video of a posh society in Noida is going viral since this morning. In this, a woman is seen ab
Mumbai. Fear of coronaviruses are affecting every part of people's lives. People are withdrawing
Affordable fitness bands will also keep an eye on your health, sleep, and stress level see details
Nowadays everyone wants to keep themselves fit. Due to the corona epidemic, people are taking ful
New Delhi, Jan 23 (IANS) Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Sin
Weather Update: Sudden change in the weather of Delhi-NCR, a sheet of dust spread in the sky
There was a sudden change in the weather on Tuesday morning amidst the scorching heat in Delhi-NC
There is an atmosphere of panic in Pakistan after India attacked Pakistan. Now, several explosion
