Involve NRKs in Kerala’s development: Vayalar Ravi
February 12th, 2011 - 8:10 pm ICT by IANS
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 12 (IANS) Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs and Civil Aviation Vayalar Ravi Saturday said non-resident Keralites (NRKs) must be involved in speeding up development activities in the state.The minister was delivering the keynote address in the session on diaspora at the Kerala Development Congress organised by the state unit of the Congress party.
“Every year the NRKs remit close to Rs.50,000 crore in the state and this money should be channelised in productive sectors. Sadly at the moment there is no avenue to do that,” said Ravi.
He chided the state government for not involving the diaspora to take part in the equity of the Kannur international airport, the work for which was launched recently.
“The state government should have allowed the diaspora to invest in small amounts in the airport. Other possible sectors to channel NRK money are services and tourism industries,” the minister said.
There are more than two million non-resident Keralites out of which close to 90 percent are working in Middle East countries.
“Kerala’s progress is reflected in the presence of large number of workers from Bengal and Bihar in the state. For them this is a ‘mini Dubai’,” added Ravi.
He said the overseas Indian affairs ministry is in the process of appointing special officers at the various Indian embassies to address the problems of the diaspora in those countries.
The development congress, inaugurated Friday by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, is seen as the unofficial launch of the campaign of the Congress-led United Democratic Front for the forthcoming assembly polls.
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- Kerala budgets didn't do justice to NRIs, says Issac (Lead) - Feb 10, 2011
- Congress brings various NRK groups under one umbrella - Jan 28, 2010
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- 'Take up issue of stranded Keralites in Saudi Arabia' - Oct 19, 2011
- Foundation stone for Kannur airport to be laid Dec 17 - Nov 20, 2010
- Government pension scheme for Indians abroad - May 03, 2012
- Kerala diaspora can partner in development: Minister - Feb 14, 2012
- NRIs get right to vote in Indian elections (Second Lead) - Jan 08, 2012
- Kerala eyes next Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas, 2017 U-17 football - Feb 15, 2012
Tags: affairs ministry, assembly polls, civil aviation, congress party, democratic front, forthcoming assembly, indian affairs, indian embassies, kannur, keynote address, manmohan, manmohan singh, middle east countries, prime minister manmohan, prime minister manmohan singh, productive sectors, rs 50, tourism industries, union minister, vayalar ravi