NRI meet moved from Dubai to Thiruvananthapuram

The venue of the get-together was shifted due to certain issues that had cropped up, said Norka-Roots.

A proposed annual meeting of non-resident Keralites (NRKs) that was to be held in Dubai would now take place in Thiruvananthapuram in August this year.

The venue of the proposed Samavayam 2005, the annual get-together of NRKs, was shifted due to "certain issues that had cropped up", said Norka-Roots chairperson M.M. Hassan.

Norka-Roots is an autonomous body of the state government that looks after all the issues of NRKs, those who have returned to live in Kerala and those Keralites who live in India but outside the state.

"The event would be held in August this year and it would be a four-day programme," Hassan told reporters.

"During the four-day event, we would have several discussions relating to NRK investments. We have also decided to give identity cards to NRKs, which would give them priority in government offices," he said, adding that a health insurance scheme would be launched for those NRKs who return home and fall in the below poverty line (BPL) bracket.

The annual premium for the insurance scheme, which would cover 10,000 people in the first phase, would be paid by the Kerala government.

Another proposal to be discussed would be a Rs.5 billion Nano Techno Centre for which the government would provide up to 10 acres of land.

"All the theoretical coordination, work plan, design and strategy protocols are being readied for the centre," said the promoter V.S. Ajith Kumar who said several companies have shown interest.

Kerala has 1.6 million NRKs, with about 90 percent in the Middle East.

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