THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan will inaugurate the collection to a welfare fund being set up for the Diaspora in Dubai next month. This fund is being set up as part of the Pravasi Kerala Welfare Bill, 2008 that was passed by the state legislature last year.
Speaking after a meeting of the board of directors of NORKA-Roots, the state agency that looks after the welfare programs for the nearly two million people from the state settled abroad, Achuthanandan said it would be the 85-year-old leader’s maiden trip abroad after becoming the Chief Minister in May 2006. “The exact dates are being worked out. I’ll be in Dubai in the third week of February to inaugurate the collection of the contribution from Keralites there,” he said.
NORKA-Roots board mem-ber and ruling party legislator Manjalamkuzhi Ali said the fund is being set up for the first time in the country by any Indian state. “All those who wish to join the scheme can contribute Rs.300 every month and the state government will right now contribute two percent,” Ali said.
