Rs 10 cr to rehabilitate returnees due to Nitaqat law

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala government today announced a rehabilitation package, including a self-employment scheme, at a total outlay of Rs 10 crore for Keralites returning from Saudi Arabia in the wake of implementation of the new labour law in that country.

"The government will provide a 10 per cent subsidy to 1000 entrepreneurs whose projects cost upto Rs 20 lakh and the Cabinet has earmarked Rs 10 crore for this purpose," Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said today after a Cabinet meeting.

Apart from providing free air tickets to those wanting to return from Saudi Arabia, government also plans to charter flights to bring back Keralites, he said.

A state-level banking committee would be convened to explore the possibility of extending concessional loans to returnees to start business ventures, Chandy said.

Nearly 13,000 people have so far returned from Saudi Arabia after that country announced the new law, he said.

Saudi Arabia has started strictly implementing Nitaquat, a policy which is part of steps to expand job avenues for its nationals. Under the policy, 10 per cent of jobs even in small and medium business establishments should be reserved for Saudi nationals.

Chandy said the state had set up three advisory committees, one each at Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam to help Keralites, whose documents who wanted to return.

Non Resident Keralites Affairs Department (NORKA) would be the nodal agency to implement various schemes for the returnees, he added.