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."
Notice to four Bengal hospitals for not treating swine flu
Kolkata, Feb 23 (IANS) The West Bengal government has slapped show cause notices on four hospit
Rohit Sharma can make a special record in the second ODI between India and West Indies to be play
Maruti has delivered 1650 cars since the lockdown was relaxed, Hyundai 608
New Delhi
The functioning of auto companies is starting to get back on track. Gradually c
Coal block case: CBI waiting for sanction to try public servants
New Delhi, March 30 (IANS) The CBI told a court here on Monday that it was waiting for sanction
Girl born with parasitic twin struggling for survival
Patna, Jan 9 (IANS) Nine-year-old Lakshmi Tatma, who was born with a parasitic twin that was re
Siddhanth Kapoor Controversy: The Karnataka Police probing the drugs case involving Siddhanth Kap
Recently, everyone from the Women’s Commission to several female singers in Bollywood raise
Air India is back home. Tata Group is buying it for Rs 18,000 crore. This was announced by the Fi
How will Corona's havoc stop? Government orders only 4% of serum population of serum
While efforts are being made to reduce the second wave of Coronavirus in the country, the governm
Nation Lockdown: know what are the 21 big challenges of 21 days which we have to face
New Delhi (JNN). Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also announced the final battle to fight the co