Karnataka Govt Plans Separate Ministry For NRI Kannadigas

Congress MLA Ashok Kumar Rai advocated for the establishment of a separate board dedicated to the welfare of NRIs from Karnataka.

Parameshwara said the state government was committed to providing all necessary assistance to NRIs in accordance with the law.

Source : Facebook/DRGParameshwara

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Wednesday informed the legislative assembly about the state government's commitment to establish a dedicated ministry to address the needs of Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Kannadigas, as pledged in the Congress's 2023 assembly polls manifesto.

In a gesture welcoming NRIs who had been invited by Speaker U T Khader to witness the assembly proceedings at the Vidhana Soudha, the minister announced the initiative. The NRIs who visited were hailing from various countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Australia, Singapore, and Western Asian countries.

According to PTI, Minister Parameshwara said, "In Kerala, there is a separate NRI Ministry at the state level, as many people from Kerala go abroad, they earn there and send money back. And also to address several of their issues like in the case of deaths abroad -- to bring the bodies back. So we said in our manifesto that, like in Kerala, in Karnataka too we will create a ministry (for NRIs)." 

Parameshwara, who chaired the Congress Manifesto Committee for the 2023 assembly polls, affirmed, "I would like to say that in the coming days, our government will establish an NRI Ministry. The state government is committed to providing all necessary assistance to NRIs in accordance with the law. Any issues they have raised will be seriously considered and addressed."

Highlighting the growing trend of NRIs returning to India and contributing to the nation's development, the minister noted their willingness to invest in the country and allocate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds from their businesses.

He mentioned that as early as 2008, the Karnataka government had established an NRI Forum to address the concerns of NRIs, and the current government has appointed Dr. Arathi Krishna as the Deputy Chairman of the forum.

Congress MLA Ashok Kumar Rai advocated for the establishment of a separate board dedicated to the welfare of NRIs from the state.