The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Company, fund for expatriates

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Friday, Jan 04, 2008
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Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Company, fund for expatriates

Staff Reporter

Plan to provide social-security net

To give a boost to industrial initiatives of expatriates
Those settling down in State also
to benefit

KOCHI: The State government is all set to float a company and implement a welfare fund for Malayali expatriates and those returning home for good from abroad as part of bringing them under the social-security net, Sheela Thomas, Secretary, Department of Non-Resident Keralites’ Affairs (NORKA), said here on Thursday.

At a press conference marking the end of the two-day Keraleeya Pravasi Sangamam, Ms. Thomas said both the initiatives would be launched with the active participation of Non-Resident Keralites (NRK). She said the project would benefit 33.5 lakh of them spread across the globe.

The objective behind floating the company was to give a boost to the industrial initiatives of the expatriates. The company planned with the participation of NRKs would be floated by issuing one crore shares having a face value of Rs. 10 each.

She said the welfare fund would ensure better living standards for the expatriates, including those who chose to return home for good. A pension scheme had been proposed under the scheme.

The welfare fund, she said, will have separate provisions for three categories of expatriates — Malayalis working abroad, those working in other States and those who return home for good to the State after working outside for at least three months. NRKs aged 18 to 55 can be beneficiaries of the fund.

Contributions of the beneficiaries will be Rs. 100, Rs. 250, Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000. To get the benefit of the pension scheme, an additional Rs. 20 should be paid.

She said the State government would earmark a specific amount for the purpose annually. Advance payments, contributions, cess and registration fees from local bodies and organisations would serve as other financial avenues for the implementation of the welfare scheme.

Under the scheme, the members would be eligible for medical and maternity allowances as well as educational assistance. A Board would be formed for the project.

NORKA-Roots Director Manjalamkuzhi Ali, MLA, said the expatriates would be provided identity cards, which would have multiple uses. K.T. Jaleel, MLA, talked about the proposal to hold a global meet and a youth festival for showcasing the talents of the children of Malayali expatriates.

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