Delegation of Kannadiga NRI leaders led by Dr. Ronald Colaco meets CM, DCM
Seeks immediate action on pending NRI Ministry, grievance cell, ₹1,000 Crore Fund
Bengaluru: A large delegation of Kannadiga NRIs representing organisations across several countries met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar in Bengaluru to press for long-pending commitments made to the global diaspora. The delegation was led by Dr Ronald Colaco, who has been entrusted by various NRI organisations to place before the government their concerns and expectations. Zakaria Jokatte from Saudi Arabia was among the members representing the Middle East diaspora during the meeting.
The appeal was formally presented through a detailed memorandum and pointwise presentation submitted to both leaders. The delegation reminded the government of two major promises included in the 2023 Assembly Election Manifesto: the creation of a separate Ministry and Department for NRI Kannadigas, and the setting up of a ₹1,000 crore revolving fund to support investments and relocation plans of Kannadiga NRIs.
The memorandum noted that more than half the government’s term has passed without progress on either commitment, leading to disappointment among Kannadigas living abroad. It stated that many NRIs feel their concerns remain unaddressed, their contributions undervalued, and their issues unprotected due to the absence of an institutional mechanism. The presentation explained that Karnataka, despite having one of the largest skilled diasporas, still lacks a structured NRI department even though several states — including Kerala, Gujarat, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and Goa — already have dedicated units and diaspora policies.
The delegation said that fulfilling the manifesto would help rebuild confidence, restore goodwill, and strengthen Karnataka’s global engagement.
The first appeal placed before the CM and DCM was the immediate creation of an “NRI Kannadiga Affairs Ministry and Department.” According to the representation, this department would act as a single-window authority to handle all NRI-related matters. This includes investment facilitation, grievance redressal, property and legal disputes, and support for cultural and educational exchanges. It would also strengthen Karnataka’s international connections for trade, tourism, technology transfer, and global partnerships.
The supporting pointwise presentation submitted by the delegates said that without a nodal department, NRI complaints continue to remain scattered between various departments such as Home, Revenue, Police, Urban and Rural Development, Industries, Labour, and sub-registrar offices. As a result, many cases remain unresolved for years.
The delegation urged the government to act quickly on the second manifesto promise by putting in place the ₹1,000 crore revolving fund meant to support NRKs who want to invest in industries, services, start-ups, or skill-based projects in Karnataka. The memorandum said the fund would help generate employment, bring new investments, and support the return of skilled Kannadigas who wish to settle back home. It stressed that the fund should be seen not as an expenditure but as an investment that would yield large economic benefits and strengthen the State’s economy.
The delegation also placed several supplementary recommendations, including:
* Formation of an NRI Grievance Redressal Cell to address property fraud, land disputes, delayed legal processes, and other issues commonly faced by NRIs.
* An annual Global Kannadiga Conclave hosted by the government to bring together investors, professionals, and community leaders.
* Simplified procedures to help NRIs take part in state development projects, CSR activities, cultural preservation efforts, and tourism promotion.
* Introduction of an NRI Identity Card to help NRKs access government services during visits to Karnataka.
* Formal partnerships with NRI associations abroad for cultural, educational, and trade-related initiatives.
The memorandum described the global diaspora as Karnataka’s “ambassadors” who contribute to the State’s identity, remittances, investments, technology links, cultural promotion, and economic growth. The pointwise presentation added that NRKs face unique challenges—such as property fraud, forgery, land grabbing, and delayed legal remedies—because they live abroad and cannot pursue matters for years. It stated that a dedicated mechanism is not a luxury but a necessity.
The delegation included Kannadiga representatives from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Poland, Italy, Sweden, Australia, Germany, Kuwait, and the USA. The list features members such as Zakaria Jokatte from Saudi Arabia, Dr Ravi Shetty from Qatar, Praveen Kumar Shetty from the UAE, Ajith Bangera from Bahrain, Harsha Jagadeesh from Sweden, and many others from across 38 entries recorded in the official list submitted to the government.
Dr Ronald Colaco, presenting the appeal on behalf of global NRK organisations, told the CM and DCM that Kannadiga NRIs remain a vital part of Karnataka’s cultural and economic base. He said their contributions in remittances, philanthropy, skill-building, and global reputation continue to support the State silently and significantly. The delegation urged the government to take up the implementation of the promised NRI Ministry and the revolving fund at the earliest to rebuild confidence and goodwill among Kannadigas worldwide.
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Bengal fire: Five more burnt body parts found, death exhibits rise to 21; DNA tests underway
Kolkata (PTI): The police on Thursday recovered five more body parts, including partially burnt and skeletal remains, from the site of a massive fire near Kolkata, taking the total number of body exhibits to 21, a senior officer said.
According to him, out of the 21 body parts, 16 have already been sent for DNA testing.
The police have received missing complaints for 27 people, of whom 21 are from Purba Medinipur district.
"We recovered five body parts from the charred remains of the gutted buildings today. So far, 21 body parts, including partially burnt and skeletal remains, have been recovered from the site. The total number of missing persons reports is 27," Baruipur Police District Superintendent Shubhendra Kumar said when contacted.
Earlier, based on inputs from the local Narendrapur police stations, it was reported that 13 more bodies were found at the site, taking the death toll to 21, while 28 others are missing.
"We cannot say now the exact death toll, as what we have recovered are body parts, which may belong to a single or different individuals. This can be confirmed only after the DNA test reports," a police officer said.
The devastating blaze, which broke out on the night of January 26, reduced two godowns and a momo manufacturing unit at Anandapur in South 24 Parganas district, on the outskirts of Kolkata, to ashes.
Of the remains recovered so far, one was a partially burnt body, while the rest were skeletal remains, making identification through conventional means difficult.
Blood samples of family members were collected at Baruipur Hospital on Wednesday to establish the identities of the deceased, in accordance with standard procedure. DNA profiling of the recovered bodies and body parts will be conducted next, the SP said.
"None of the bodies can be identified individually. We have to rely on DNA analysis. All the recovered parts have been sent for DNA mapping," he added.
According to police sources, eyewitnesses have told investigators that a picnic had been organised at the decorator's godown on the night of January 25, with at least 28 people present.
"After dinner, most of the workers went to sleep," they said, adding that the fire broke out thereafter. "We are examining whether the blaze was triggered by a cigarette or similar combustible material," the SP said.
The blaze reduced the warehouses and the manufacturing unit to rubble, leaving behind charred buildings and the bodies of workers.
Meanwhile, the fire services and forensic department have submitted a preliminary report to the police, stating that the blaze had originated not from the momo manufacturing unit, but from an adjoining godown of a decorator, a senior official said.
The report contradicts claims made earlier by the arrested owner of the decorators’ godown, Gangadhar Das, who had alleged that the fire first broke out in the momo factory.
“Based on the examination conducted so far, the fire originated on the third floor of the decorators’ godown and subsequently spread to other parts of the premises, including the momo manufacturing unit,” a senior police officer said, citing the joint report.
According to officials, forensic teams visited the spot soon after the incident and collected multiple samples to determine the cause and point of origin of the blaze.
“The fire spread rapidly from the decorators’ godown to the momo unit,” an official from the fire services said.
The report further noted that the decorators’ godown and the momo unit together spanned nearly 35,000 square feet, of which the momo factory occupied around 8,000 square feet.
The remaining area was allegedly being used by the decorator, officials said.
Police sources said that further forensic examination may be ordered if required.
