2024-02-08 14:36:05
Gulf people are in trouble when they are expatriates and when they return from exile. Expatriate Keralites are a double-faced group of people who face constant crises. For their rehabilitation, welfare, treatment etc., the allocation in the budget this time is Rs 114 crores. Rest assured that our government has set aside this meager amount at a time when there is no money in the exchequer.
This is what I felt when I looked at the share of expatriates in the budget. Budgets are like manifestos filled with unfulfilled promises. This will become clear if we study what happened to the amount and schemes allocated for the welfare of expatriates in the previous budgets. Hopefully no big promises this time around. The consideration for non-residents has been added in the budget by referring to the amount allocated for various activities of NORCA in the financial year 2024-25. 25 crores have been earmarked for the NDPREM scheme, which was devised to ensure sustainable livelihoods by encouraging self-employment initiatives as part of the resettlement of returnees to Kerala as a result of the global recession and nationalization in the Gulf countries.
44 crores is earmarked for the rehabilitation and reintegration coordination scheme of returning expatriates. Rs 33 crore has also been earmarked for the ‘Santhwana’ scheme, which intends to provide one-time financial assistance of up to Rs 50,000 to Malayalis who have worked abroad for at least two years, post-death financial assistance of up to Rs 68 lakh, marriage financial assistance of up to Rs 15,000 and financial assistance of up to Rs 10,000 for purchase of assistive devices for the disabled. 12 crore is also budgeted for welfare schemes through The Non-Resident Keralites Welfare Board.
These budget texts have the objectives to be achieved with such a small allocation. If the needs and rights of a people who bring the most foreign exchange to Kerala are put on one floor and this budget allocation is on another floor, then anyone can understand what is ajagajantaram. So, let’s applaud the government by singing a song called “Lhapham Tithai Thalam”.
(Writer is UAE KMCC President)
#Whoa…expatriates #promises #Madhyamam