The Hindu : Kerala News : Steps to check illegal recruitment

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Wednesday, Sep 19, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala

Steps to check illegal recruitment

Staff Reporter

Thiruvananthapuram: The government will strengthen the working of the NoRKA-Roots and the ODEPC (Overseas Development and Employment Promotion Consultants Ltd.) to check illegal recruitment agencies operating in the State, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has said.

Replying to questions in the Assembly on Tuesday, Mr. Achuthanandan said NoRKA-Roots, functioning under NoRKA (Non-Resident Keralites’ Affairs) Department, received licence for recruitment. ODEPC, functioning under the Labour Department, also obtained licence for recruitment.

The government is seriously considering setting up a separate wing in the Kerala Police for taking action against illegal recruitment agencies.

The police were asked to take stern action against those indulging in illegal recruitment by accepting huge fees and by offering “high salary” and “good accommodation” in the Gulf countries. The government was aware of instances of Malayalis getting cheated and harassed in the Gulf.

He said the government had started talks with the Centre and embassies to find out whether recruitment through ‘State to State’ could be carried out. It was also taking all steps to immediately bring back the bodies of those who died in the Gulf.

Welfare fund

In reply to another question, the Chief Minister said the government was considering a proposal to set up a welfare fund for the Gulf returnees and to give pension to them. Legislation has to be made for it. Education assistance to the children of the Gulf returnees who were not financially sound was also under the consideration, he said.

The Chief Minister said the government had taken up the need to commence more flights to the Middle East from the three airports in the State. “The government is giving equal importance to the three airports,” he said.

Airlines

Mr. Achuthanandan said Air-India had evinced interest to operate flights from Kerala to the U.S. and Europe. Air Dravid and Pegasus Airways had informed that they were ready to operate flights to and from the State.

Air India Express, the low cost carrier of Air-India, would operate more domestic flights from next month. He said many airlines had approached the Union Civil Aviation Ministry to commence flights to the State.

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