United Pravasi Alliance (UPA): Coordination Committee of Pravasi Organizations Formed
Kochi, Kerala: Representatives from various Pravasi organisations in Kerala convened in Kochi and formed a coordination committee under the name “United Pravasi Alliance.” Initially, more than twenty-five organisations participated.
The officials announced that it was decided to expand the committee by including more organisations from abroad and within the country, and to expand its operations by including local associations at the district and constituency levels.
The meeting assessed that the exploitation of the unorganised Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), who make up one-third of the state’s population, is being continued by the various political fronts.
“Pravasi Malayalees are a segment of the general public. There is a situation where even the benefits they are entitled to are only available to organized groups. Therefore, the meeting evaluated that it is necessary for the NRIs to become organised. The coordination of various organisations is a dream of the NRIs in the country and abroad. The joint Pravasi coalition is realizing that dream,” a statement from UPA said.
The meeting also decided to submit various demands to the government as a statement of rights; which include:
– Increase the Pravasi pension to Rs. 5,000 in the 2025-26 state budget, as promised in the Left Front’s election manifesto!
– Implement a pension for NRIs who have returned to the country after completing their difficult time abroad and are over 60 years of age.
– The budget allocation for the welfare of NRIs, who send Rs. 2.75 lakh crore as NRI money to the state, should be increased to Rs. 2,000 crore.
– The practice of arbitrarily increasing air ticket charges during the season should be avoided. The Central Government should respond immediately to the case in the Kerala High Court on this issue.
– The additional tax levied by the Centre on the purchase and sale of property on the grounds that NRIs are not permanent residents should be withdrawn.
– The Central Government should allocate funds in the budget for the welfare of NRIs who send more than Rs. 12 lakh crore of remittance to the country every year.
– Steps should be taken to expedite the process of ensuring legal protection for the “Loka Kerala Sabha”.
– The promise to integrate the Norka Pravasi Rehabilitation Loan with the MSME loan should be implemented.
– The collection of CSR funds, which was decided as a source of income for the Pravasi Welfare Fund, should be expedited by including more institutions.
– Establish the Pravasi voting right.
– The promised ‘Pravasi Mission’ on the model of the Kudumbashree Mission should be implemented in a timely manner.
The meeting decided to bring these demands to the attention of the authorities. The meeting also demanded that the MPs from Kerala should strongly intervene to formulate NRI welfare schemes in the central budget.
New Office Bearers
Dinesh Chandana [President]
Sunil Khan, Salim Pallivila, Premson Kayamkulam [Vice Presidents]
Gulam Hussain Kolakkadan [General Secretary]
Bavis Vijayan, Prithviraj Narath, C. P. Rajasekharan Nair [Secretaries]
N.C. Abdul Jabbar Narikuni [Treasurer] and others were elected to the committee.
