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."
Delhi Capitals will consider the match against Punjab Kings as a knockout match, the bowler claimed
Delhi Capitals (DC) spinner Kuldeep Yadav has said that his team is treating their upcoming match
Congress is putting in all its efforts to regain its lost political ground in Delhi. Along with f
House prices have increased sharply during 2021-22 in 41 cities of the country. At the same time,
Progressive Budget which Delivers on Growth: Modi
New Delhi, Feb 28 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday hailed the Union budget as progr
Traffic will remain disrupted on many roads in the national capital Delhi on Tuesday as well. Del
Bedi disputes exit poll findings
New Delhi, Feb 7 (IANS) BJP's chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi Saturday disputed the exit
When the court commissioner's team reached Sambhal at 7 am on Sunday for a survey based on the su
'No compromise on security, respect, and dignity': The ICC has currently rejected the Bangladesh
A big claim has been made about India in a United Nations report. It has been said that by 2050,
Weather Update Today: According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), there will be heavy