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."
Ahead of the 2026 IPL season, Australian fast bowlers have created a predicament. Chennai Super K
Discussion of relations between India and America has started once again regarding Russia's S-400
India must be prepared for two-front war: IDS chief
New Delhi, Jan 5 (IANS) India must be prepared for a two-front war keeping in view the growing
Mahendra Singh Dhoni has indicated his retirement from IPL. He said after the match against Sunri
Imran Khan's party will stake a claim for the chief minister's post in Pakistan Prime Minister Sh
Sooner or later, cryptocurrencies in India may get approved with terms and conditions. This is be
Russia's attack on Ukraine continues. According to Ukrainian media reports, Russia has surrounded
The mega auction of players for IPL 2025 is over. As expected, this time all the previous records
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has left for a five-nation visit today. This eight-day tour, which w
What if UP becomes Kerala? Adityanath asked; Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan replied
On the day of voting for the first phase of the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, a debate has br