Govt to open helpline for NRIs

KOCHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate a round-the-clock International Helpline in the ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs for the benefit of NRIs working in various countries.

Presiding over the two-day "Keraleeya Pravasi Sangamam 2008", here today, the Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said the initiative would enable the NRIs to convey their grievance to the distress cell in the ministry.

Ravi said he was getting a lot of complaints regarding exploitation of Indians by recruitment agencies. Steps have been taken to address the issue.

On voting rights to NRIs, he said: We hope to find a solution to the long pending demands of the NRIs for voting right."

"NRIs are playing a key role as far as the country's development is concerned." Admitting that NRIs are having several problems, he said the Centre was taking initiatives to solve their problems.

Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, inaugurating the function, said, "everyone knows the contributions made by the NRIs in the development of Kerala."

He said lakhs of families were depending on the NRIs and as a result of their remittances, innumerable employment opportunities had been created in the state.