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."
Exhibition highlights Indian soldiers' contribution in WWI
New Delhi, Jan 7 (IANS) Through mundane objects like matchboxes and utensils, rare monochromati
US President Joe Biden lashed out at Donald Trump's Republican Party on Wednesday. A mob of suppo
Amidst the increasing cases of Omicron infection of the coronavirus in the country, the Indian SA
Sudan's violent struggle for power between armed forces has reached a critical juncture. A 72-hou
IPL 2022: Virat Kohli will create history, ready to become only second batsman to do so in IPL
Virat Kohli eyes a huge milestone: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) hasn't had a good start in t
New Delhi, Feb 19 (IANS) It was a warm and sunny Thursday morning in the national capital as th
Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin has openly threatened America without naming it. Putin s
Manmohan Singh paying for Congress sin: Javadekar
New Delhi, March 11 (IANS) Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Wednesday that forme
Since buying Twitter, Elon Musk has been announcing something new every day by tweeting. Through
AIADMK Announces Candidate for Srirangam By Poll
Chennai, Jan 16 (IANS) Tamil Nadu's ruling AIADMK Friday named S.Valarmathi as its candidate fo
