Rs. 2,000-crore rehab plan for Kerala NRIs

The Government would soon submit the scheme to the Centre for early approval, says Chief Minister Vijayan.

The Kerala government intends to soon submit a Rs 2,000 crore proposal to the Union government for rehabilitation of non-resident Indians (NRIs) from the state who have returned home permanently from abroad amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Wednesday, October 27

The Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan speaking on the plight of expatriate workers who had lost their jobs to the pandemic, Mr. Vijayan said the Government would submit the scheme to the Centre for early approval.

This was in addition to the various relief packages the state had already provided to them, he told the Assembly.

Elaborating  further he said untill October 26, a total of 17,51,852 people returned from abroad. A majority of them were from Middle East countries. 

He said portal figures show that around 12.57 lakh returnees have lost their jobs. The state government has earmarked Rs 50 crore for them in the 2021-22 Budget to start some new venture. 

“However, as per the Airport Authority of India, from May 2020 till October, a total of 39,55,230 people have travelled through various airports. A majority of them have returned,” said the CM.

Vijayan said a sum of Rs 5,000 each has been given to 1,33,800 people who came back with a valid passport and a valid job visa, but have not been able to return. 

“Apart from this, we gave Rs 10,000 each to 181 returnees who tested COVID-19 positive besides Rs 1,000 each to 18,278 people who receive the diaspora pension,” said Vijayan.

He said portal figures show that around 12.57 lakh returnees have lost their jobs. The state government has earmarked Rs 50 crore for them in the 2021-22 Budget to start some new venture. 

“Numerous schemes are there for the returnees to start something or the other ventures, and it includes loans, interest subsidies and similar sops,” added Vijayan.

*********************************************************************

Readers

These are extraordinary times. All of us have to rely on high-impact, trustworthy journalism. And this is especially true of the Indian Diaspora. Members of the Indian community overseas cannot be fed with inaccurate news.

Pravasi Samwad is a venture that has no shareholders. It is the result of an impassioned initiative of a handful of Indian journalists spread around the world.  We have taken the small step forward with the pledge to provide news with accuracy, free from political and commercial influence. Our aim is to keep you, our readers, informed about developments at ‘home’ and across the world that affect you.

Please help us to keep our journalism independent and free.

In these difficult times, to run a news website requires finances. While every contribution, big or small, will makes a difference, we request our readers to put us in touch with advertisers worldwide. It will be a great help.

For more information: pravasisamwad00@gmail.com