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."
Indian captain KL Rahul admitted that India's inability to score enough runs in the death overs c
The Indian team has created history by securing the top spot in the latest Test team rankings rel
When Team India goes to play the 5-match home T20 series against South Africa, it will be seen in
Sonu Sood turns Corona positive, still ready to help people
New Delhi, JNN l Sonu Sood's test positive for coronavirus has come. Information about this, he h
India beat Bangladesh by 109 runs, reach World Cup semis
Melbourne, March 19 (IANS) India beat Bangladesh by 109 runs to enter the cricket World Cup sem
Rajnath hails diaspora as India's indomitable spirit
Gandhinagar, Jan 9 (IANS) Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Friday praised the contributions of
The court has delivered its verdict on five serious charges against former Bangladesh Prime Minis
Team India's star player KL Rahul performed brilliantly in the first ODI match played between Ind
India bought the maximum crude oil from Russia in December 2022. Earlier this happened in October
68 Percent Voting in Chhattisgarh Panchayat Polls
Raipur, Jan 28 (IANS) The first phase of the Chhattisgarh panchayat elections recorded 68 percen
