DAMMAM, 8 September 2006 — Keralite community leaders in the Eastern Province have emphasized that NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) from the south Indian state should play a significant role in the progress and prosperity of Kerala, while stressing that politicization of matters back home and lack of discipline and planning had affected the state’s development.
They made this comment on the occasion of KERALA FEST 2006, which will be opened here today by Khaled Almaeena, editor-in-chief of Arab News. Organized by Navodaya Cultural Center, a cultural and social organization of Keralites working in the province, the festival is held to mark the 50th anniversary of the formation of their state.
More than 15,000 Keralites, including Novodaya members are expected to attend the festivities to be organized throughout the province, including Jubail, Raheema, Al-Ahsa, Dammam, Alkhobar and Qatif. A variety of cultural, educational and recreational programs will be held as part of KERALA FEST.
Mathews Kurian, former district governor of Gulf Toastmasters’ Club and a senior community leader in the province, thanked Almaeena for finding time to open the festival and interact with people from the state.
“These kind of events with the participation of prominent personalities like Almaeena will create a good impression about Kerala, its people and culture,” he said.
Abraham Valiyakala, chief patron of Navodaya, said the seminars and symposiums to be held as part of the festival would give an idea of what should be done for the development of Kerala in the next 50 years.
He emphasized the role of people in bringing about political, social and economic changes in the state.
He said Keralite expatriates contribute about 200 billion rupees (about $4.3 billion, or SR16.1 billion) to the state coffers. There are 2.5 million Keralites working in the Gulf, including 800,000 in Saudi Arabia. Abraham urged the new LDF government of V.S. Achuthanandan to work out a 50-year development plan for the state with the support of expatriates.
He said Keralite expatriates in the Gulf could make immense contributions for the welfare of the state, by carrying out investment projects in health, agriculture, industry, tourism and information technology.
“Our seminars will also discuss how to help Keralites end their overseas life by introducing feasible projects,” he added.
C. Hashim, executive manager of Najim, emphasized the need for changing the present mindset of Keralites in order for the state to achieve greater progress in tune with world development.
“Our people oppose many projects and programs which are successfully implemented in other parts of the world,” he explained.
“Our government should have a permanent agenda for development. What is happening now is that whenever a new government comes it nullifies the development agenda of the previous government,” said Hashim, who is a Muslim League supporter.
For Rafeek Younus, president of Sargam Cultural Association, indiscipline is the key issue. “We should learn from people in other countries like Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, where people are highly disciplined,” he said, adding he believed that Kerala could have made greater progress if there were proper planning combined with sincere and joint efforts. He also called for appointing young and energetic ministers and people-friendly police officers to usher in a new era in the state.
Navodaya, which has about 10,000 members in seven major cities in the Eastern Province, carries out a number of activities in the service of the community such as payment of hospital bills of poor employees, providing legal support to people in trouble and giving scholarships to outstanding poor students in the state.
“We have given 2.5 million rupees ($54,181, or SR203,178) to support the bereaved families of our ten members,” Abraham said.