Kerala to hike pension for NRKs

KOTTAYAM: The state government has moved to hike the pension distributed under the government's pension scheme for the Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs). The assembly sub-committee on NRKs has already submitted the recommendations regarding this to the government and the government has taken steps to implement the recommendations soon, said the sub-committee chairman K V Abdul Khader, MLA.He was replying to the complaints raised in the sitting of the panel held at the District Collectorrate on Tuesday. Many participants complained about the meagre amount given as pension through the Kerala Non-Resident Keralites Welfare Board.
Abdul Kahder also said that a NRKs' commission will be formed to ensure the safety of the life and wealth and other issues faced by the NRKs. A commission with semi-judicial powers under Justice P Bhavadas will come into existence soon.
The panel will bring to the attention of the government the complaints about the non-cooperation of the banks regarding providing loans for the NRKs returning to Kerala to begin self-employment units. The panel will also bring to the notice of the government the issues with the recruitment of nurses to foreign countries. The panel will also urge the government to improve the activities of the Norka-Roots which is a government body. The panel will also consider the opening of a special legal cell for helping the NRKs.
Panel members Anwar Sadath, M Rajagopalan, Antony John MLAs and District Collector C A Latha took part. Various organisations of the NRKs also took part in the meeting.