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."
ISRO Plans to launch Navigation Satellite by March-End
Chennai, March 10 (IANS) The Indian space agency plans to
24 institutes encroached on land in Odisha: Minister
Bhubaneswar, March 16 (IANS) The Odisha government has issued notice to 24 engineering and mana
Intense cold kills 15 in Bihar, Schools Closed
Pat Jan 19 (IANS) Intense cold in Bihar has claimed 15 more lives, pushing the total number of
Architectural designs of Puducherry's Matrimandir on show
New Delhi, Jan 2 (IANS) Over 100 exhibits offer a deeper
Slums biggest hindrance to Swachch Bharat: Goa CM
Panaji, March 30 (IANS) Slums are the biggest challenge vis-a-vis the implementation of the Swa
Tribals in Bengal to use Facebook for Development
Kolkata, March 21 (IANS) Taking their friendship from the virtual to the real world, more than
India Us Relationship: "India-US relations can define the 21st century" - Congress member Ro Khanna
Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna on Monday said that the relationship between India and Amer
Like Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon, her younger sister Nupur Sanon has got a big film in the hand
The risk of corona infection is increasing once again in China. Alam is that the world's largest
The central government has not placed an order for the corona vaccine? know what you said
The reports of the Central Government not placing any new order for the Corona vaccine have been
