Keralites living in the Gulf region appealed to the Kerala government to use online means to register people from the State living abroad.
The Non-Resident Keralite (NRKs) survey which began on May 1 in Kerala along with the sixth economic census of the Central Statistical Organisation, will cover the entire household across the State to enumerate the exact number of people working abroad and also the expatriates.
In a statement released by Pravasi Bandhu Welfare Trust, its Chairman K.V. Shamsudheen said that a large number of Keralites live with their family members abroad and their houses back home are locked.
“There will not be anyone available in their houses to give the data when enumerators visit. The only solution is to launch a portal and request NRKs living abroad with family to enter their data online,” the statement said.
According to Shamsudheen, the government must publish the basic information required to give online data on NRKs — such as panchayat, municipality, corporation name, ward number, house number, etc.
The trust hailed the fact that Kerala is the first State making a bid to get head count of approximately 2.2 million non-resident Keralites working abroad.
“This census (may) not give hundred per cent correct figure. More than 10 per cent of NRKs are living abroad with family. There are many schools with Kerala syllabus with thousands of students,” said the statement.