COCHIN, 21 July — Chief Minister A.K. Antony yesterday kicked off the first ever conclave of non-resident Keralites (NRKs) here, making an impassioned appeal to them to actively participate in the state’s overall rejuvenation.
Inaugurating the first global convention of NRKs called “Samavayam 2001”, Antony said: “We request you to join hands with us to develop and build a new Kerala. If that doesn’t happen, then Kerala is finished. “The time is ripe for a change, and the first way is to change all the slogans we have developed in the last many years.
“I, who had held on to several old formulas through my experience in modern day life, have also changed because I have realized that without that Kerala will never progress and hunger and famine would be the order of the day,” said Antony.
The chief minister asked the NRK population — estimated to be 1.6 million-strong — to invest in their home state and bring their partners in business to pour capital into the state’s economy.
Of the state’s nearly 1.6 million expatriate population, 1.5 million live in the Gulf.
“Don’t think that this is going to be a one-way affair. We know for certain that if you had not sent us the rewards of your hard work (remittances), Kerala would have been finished long ago. You have helped us a lot and we assure you that we would repay that through new policy initiatives and a favorable investment direction,” said Antony.
He promised to solve all the problems the NRK community faces. “I have already taken up with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee the matter of voting rights for you, to end the monopoly of Air-India and decrease the present air fares and all other problems.
“After the meeting concludes tomorrow, we would list out all the major points of the deliberations and make a representation to the prime minister seeking his immediate help. What we could do we would do and what is to be done at the center we would put pressure on them,” Antony said.
The response to the convention has been overwhelming, officials said.
“Even though we had reconfirmation of nearly 500 visitors from all over the world, some 750 people have registered,” Minister for NRKs M.M. Hassan said.
“The biggest victory of the meeting is the presence of the opposition leader V.S. Achuthanandan. See the chief minister and opposition leader sitting close by. This is a good sign for all,” he said.
Delivering the presidential address, L.M. Singhvi, chairman of the Center-appointed committee on the Indian Diaspora, said the NRK meeting would serve as a model for all other states. The meeting is expected to deal with a wide range of issues concerning NRKs. Almost the entire state cabinet is here to chair one or more sessions to instill a sense of confidence in the NRKs.
