KOZHIKODE: The Kerala Pravasi Council has demanded setting up of an emigration office in Kozhikode.

In a petition to Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi and Union Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed, president of the council P.K. Kabeer said that thousands of people from Malabar had to depend on the emigration office in Ernakulam for matters relating to their work. This was causing loss to them both financially and time-wise.

"Travel agencies are exploiting these people. They are forced to pay the amount charged by these agencies, as they have no other option."

The petition also demanded urgent steps to release Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), incarcerated in foreign countries for years together, who were unable to prove their innocence because of the technicalities involved in the law.

Another demand put forth by the council was to set up free legal aid cells for NRIs both in the country and abroad.

Demands including pension for NRIs who have passed 60 years of age, low cost air services, free insurance, identity card, accommodation near airport at lower rates and special quota for children of NRIs in schools and colleges were also raised.

The petition, while welcoming the decision of the Union Government to grant voting rights to NRIs, also demanded provision of postal votes so that they could cast votes through the Indian embassy offices in the countries where they worked. It noted that the Union Government had not taken any steps for the welfare of the thousands of NRIs who had lost their job and had to return home due to "Omanisation" (replacement of expatriates in Oman with trained Omani personnel). It also demanded that those leaving for working in foreign countries register their name and address at the district collectorate.

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