The Kerala State NRK (Non-Resident Keralites) Welfare Fund Board will organise an enrolment drive among Malayalees in Gulf countries, NORKA (Non-Resident Keralites Affairs) Minister K C Joseph told the Assembly on Friday. Although there are approximately 30 lakh Malayalees employed in various Gulf nations, only 1.14 lakh have enrolled in the NRK Welfare Fund. The campaign will focus on increasing the membership with the help of Malayali organisations in the Gulf, the minister said in a reply to a question. NRK Welfare Fund Board chairman P M A Salam will lead the campaign, he said.
A skill development programme for Malayalees returning from the Gulf is under the active consideration of the government. The upper age-limit for enrolling in the welfare fund will be raised from 55 to 60. An amendment will be made to the existing rule in this regard.
Special Purpose Vehicles
A special purpose vehicle will be launched for the implementation of Centrally-funded schemes, such as the Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP) and Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY), Urban Affairs Minister Manjalamkuzhi Ali. The government is also planning to avoid the appointment of consultants for the implementation of Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project (KSUDP), he said.
Development Master Plans
Like municipal corporations, municipalities too will have development master plans soon. The government plans to create master plans for the municipalities within a year. The plans for 32 municipalities will be completed within two months, Ali said.