The Kerala Government will come out with a scheme to ensure the participation of non-resident Keralites (NRKs) and Gulf returnees in the industrial development of the State.
There is huge potential for investment in the industrial and information technology sectors and the NRK community should tap it with new-generation entrepreneurs, according to Mr P.K. Kunhalikutty, Minister for Industries and Commerce.
He said at the ‘Pravasi Divas' celebrations of the Malabar Pravasi Coordination Council here that the proposed new initiative would generate more employment opportunities for Gulf returnees and investment avenues for NRKs. The investors should explore the possibilities in joint ventures also.
The Minister said the Government was well aware of the issues concerning expatriates and the area where the Government could effectively intervene to settle them. The Government was in favour of drafting a suitable policy to address the concerns of the expatriate community, he added.
The Government would extend all possible support to new entrepreneurs to clear official procedures without delay. The only condition in this respect was that they should come up with projects that would help generate employment, he noted.
The State needed more new-generation ventures to help the unemployed youth and the expatriate community, with their rich professional experience and global exposure, should take up the challenge, the Minister said.
Welfare fund
Meanwhile, the expatriates, who attended the meet, expressed protest against the exclusion of those above the age of 55 from the purview of the Pravasi Welfare Fund.
They alleged that the welfare scheme, introduced with wide publicity, was ignoring thousands of poor Gulf returnees above the age of 55. They also said that the Rs. 1,000-pension scheme announced by the Government for the welfare fund beneficiaries would not have much value with the passage of time.
The Chief Executive of the Pravasi Welfare Fund, Mr Shahul Hameed, clarified that the pravasi fund was now at an early stage of implementation and there might be scope for amendments taking into account the feedback of the expatriate community.