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."
Navratri 2022 Day 1: Today (Monday) is the first day of Sharadiya Navratri. Navratri started on 2
Big B took a dig at 'biased commentary' during the India-Australia cricket match, and said this
India had won the first Test of the five-match series being played in Perth by 295 runs over Aust
During the Corona period, India sent the help of COVID-19 vaccines to many countries around the w
Ballon d'Or: Lionel Messi wins the best player award in world football for the seventh time
Paris Saint-Germain and Argentine forward Lionel Messi have won the Ballon d'Or, the title of foo
BJP 24-25, rebels 15, independents also 'revdi'; Shinde cabinet may be like this
Eknath Shinde Cabinet: After a long wait of almost a month, an agreement has been reached on the
The world witnessed the strict attitude of the administration of Donald Trump towards China and d
Taiwanese boys joining Ukraine's army: being martyred fighting Russia, reason told to China
The youth of Taiwan are also supporting Ukraine in the war being fought against Russia. Many boys
Congress complains to poll panel against BJP
New Delhi, Feb 6 (IANS) The Congress Friday complained to the Election Commission against BJP,
Mayank Agarwal caught England flight, can open in Birmingham Test of ENG vs IND series
Opener Mayank Agarwal has caught a flight to England. Mayank shared a photo of himself after boar
2G money laundering case: Statements of Raja, Kanimozhi recorded
New Delhi, March 24 (IANS) Former telecom minister A. Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi and three other ac
