Chief
Minister Oommen Chandy has taken up the cudgels for non-resident Keralites in
West Asia against Air India.
In his speech at the formal inauguration of Pravasi Bharatiya
Divas here on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said a major complaint of overseas
Indians, especially in West Asia, was about the “lethargic attitude of Air
India.”
“Very often, flights are cancelled at the last moment without
proper notice,” he said.
He said Kerala had taken steps to constitute a company called
Air Kerala, a budget airline, to fly between Kerala and West Asia.
He said steps were on to implement the project with the
participation of non-resident Keralites. The Union government should allow
concessions and exemptions so that the project could become a reality soon.
He said the State government had initiated major welfare and
social security schemes for the migrants from the State, such as Pravasi Kshema
Nidhi and Pravasi Pension and Accident Insurance Scheme. These efforts
complemented those of the Union Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. In
addition, welfare schemes such as Santhwana and Chairman’s Fund were being
implemented for the poor among those who had come back from abroad and their
family members. Further, a rehabilitation programme for returnees would be
launched shortly.
During the recent National Development Council meeting, the
Chief Minister had suggested formulating Centrally sponsored schemes to
supplement the efforts of the State to rehabilitate the returning migrants. Mr.
Chandy said he was hoping for a positive response.
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