Time, cost of domestic remittances must reduce: Jairam Ramesh
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday called for a reduction in the time and cost of domestic remittances, saying they help the economies of several eastern and northern states, including Uttar Pradesh.
In a post on X, he noted that while India's remittances from abroad get more policy attention than domestic remittances, this must change due to the volume of domestic remittances as well as their socio-economic profile.
"India's remittances from abroad in 2025 totalled about USD 135 billion. This is around 3.4 per cent of GDP. These remittances have been exceedingly important for managing the country's balance of payments and have been crucial for the economies of a number of states like Kerala. These remittances have been well studied," Ramesh said.
On the other hand, he pointed out, there is less awareness regarding the scale of domestic remittances, which refer to money sent by migrant workers from one state to another within India.
He cited estimates for Kerala, indicating that domestic remittances from the state may account for about one-third of the overseas remittances received by it.
Ramesh referenced an article by Robbin Van Jan Duijne, a scholar at the University of Amsterdam, published in The India Forum, which estimates domestic remittances across India to be between USD 36 billion and USD 48 billion in 2024.
"This is anywhere between a third and two-fifths of remittances to India from overseas. Unfortunately, these domestic remittances generate less headlines, create less enthusiasm, and do not get the policy attention that overseas remittances get.
"This must change, given both the volume of domestic remittances as well as their socio-economic profile. The time and cost of such remittances must get reduced. Domestic remittances are significantly helping the economies of the eastern states as well as some northern states like UP," the Congress leader said in his post.
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Assam records nearly 18 pc voter turnout in first two hours of assembly polls
Guwahati (PTI): A voter turnout of 17.87 per cent was recorded in the first two hours of the assembly elections in Assam, where the BJP-led NDA is seeking a third consecutive term in power, while the Congress is striving to reclaim a state it lost a decade ago.
Polling began at 7 am for the 126-member assembly, and 17.87 per cent of the state's 2.5 crore voters exercised their franchise till 9 am, officials said.
A total of 722 candidates are in the fray for the elections, which is largely witnessing a direct contest between the BJP-led ruling coalition and the opposition bloc helmed by the Congress.
The river island of Majuli recorded the highest turnout in the first two hours at 20.03 per cent, while Tamulpur in the Bodoland Territorial Region witnessed the lowest at 15.32 per cent.
Voters began queuing outside polling booths since early morning, despite rain in many parts of the state.
Prominent candidates who have cast their votes so far include Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia in Nazira, Assam Jatiya Parishad president Lurinjyoti Gogoi in Khowang, and BJP's Pradyut Bordoloi.
Votes are being cast at 31,490 polling stations across the 35 districts of the state, with polling concluding at 5 pm.
Among the heavyweight candidates whose fates would be decided in this election are Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi, AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal and Raijor Dal leader Akhil Gogoi.
The Congress has fielded the highest number of candidates at 99, followed by the BJP with 90. The AIUDF has 30 candidates, while NDA constituents Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People's Front (BPF) are contesting 26 and 11 seats, respectively.
In the opposition bloc, Raijor Dal is contesting 13 seats, Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) 10, CPI(M) 3 and APHLC 2. Other parties in the fray include AAP (18), UPPL (18), TMC (22), JMM (16), besides 258 Independents.
Algapur-Katlicherra and Karimganj South have the highest number of candidates at 15 each, while nine constituencies -- Rangia, Jagiroad (SC), Hojai, Naduar, Jonai (ST), Doomdooma, Mahmora, Teok and Lakhipur -- have only two candidates each.
