In what turned out to be a turning point for the efforts to solve decades-old problems faced by the NRI community worldwide, the present government of Kerala has taken bold steps to embrace a path of action shunning the bygone era of ’empty promises, shouting slogans and holding seminars’.
Jiji Thomson, the secretary of the NORKA (the state government body for the welfare of expatriates), spoke to a large Indian expatriate audience in a funtion organized by the Indian Association Sharjah, UAE.
Thomson, who is on a private visit to UAE on the invitation of his childhood friend for the Onam celebrations, expressed his surprise seeing the overwhelming response from the Indian expat community in UAE and the GCC countries. Prior to the seminar, he had given live interviews on all major Indian radio channels in UAE.
As a strong believer in the personal conscience- do as one feels right- Thomson had to face 17 transfers in his 21 years of service as an IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officer.
The organizers of the function called the attention of the NORKA secretary to various issues like voting rights for NRIs, inclusion in the ration card, the exorbitant fees charged on Kerala board flights and the users fee at the state airports charged like nowhere in the country.
“I have never taken up a post so challenging as this” said Thomson while assuring his whole-hearted dedication for the task at hand. But he requested the active participation of the Keralites abroad also in the struggle for their rights and asked to co-operate and criticize wherever necessary. “We require a missionary zeal”, said he in an inspiring tone.
Rehabilitation of Gulf returnees
He admitted that there was a lapse in this issue and was not taken care of at present. There is no proper system to make use of the returnees’ expertise since no records are available for this purpose. ‘A strategy has been developed to collect such data through online forms to build a large database.
Flight charges
Regarding the inflated flight charges, the matter ultimately rests in the hands of the Aviation ministry at Delhi, the Indian capital. But part of the problem lies with the passive Keralite lobby at the capital whose voice is not well heard (or well received) at the capital. He talked about introducing the more systematic ferry services (there is already a private agency operating in this field) under private ownership that would become a cheaper alternative for the hiked air route. Only such a bold move will pressurize the central government for reducing the present inflated prices.
Samavayam 2001
Thomson shared the popular sentiment that the recent 2-day seminar with delegates from Gulf countries and Kerala government did not earn big results but it definitely was a ‘good starting point’.
Creating Investment-friendly climate
Thomson called for the revision of the Kerala’s Industrial Policy to reduce the bureaucratic delay and other related ‘headaches’ faced by NRI industrialists wishing to invest in Kerala. (Presently, the trade unions in Kerala are a major deterrence for those wanting to start industries).
He recalled the case of an investor, while responding to a proposal put by Dr. M.K. Muneer (the Public Works Minister) at the Samavayam 2001 to privatize rest houses. The investor had to obtain permission from 5 different government ministries for his proposed undertaking of a rest house in Ernakulam.
The enthusiastic audience asked many questions as well as gave many useful suggestions for the joint venture between the residents of ‘sand dunes’ and the government of the ‘paddy fields’.
Trade and Commerce in MeraWatan: Why?
MeraWatan was there when Shah Bandar, the Arabian trader, was the chief tradesman of the Kingdom of Samudiri, the king of Calicut. The flow of petro-dollars gave another dimension to this relationship that was established even during the time of King Solomon. And now in the 21st century, the bond between the sand dunes and the paddy fields takes a new turn in another fashion.
The look of the cup may change from time to time. But the drink was always the same. The minarets remain cool under the shade of the coconut trees. And between them blows the Cool Breeze.