Non-Resident Kannadigas seek government support, separate ministry for their welfare
The delegation was invited by Legislative Assembly Speaker UT Khader to Vidhan Soudha
Bengaluru: A delegation of non-resident Kannadigas from over 15 countries has appealed to the state government for financial aid and the establishment of a dedicated ministry to address their concerns. The delegation, invited by Legislative Assembly Speaker UT Khader, met with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at Vidhana Soudha to submit their requests.
Led by Dr. Aarti Krishna, Vice Chairman of the State Government NRI Cell, the delegation included members from the USA, Canada, Australia, UAE, Qatar, Dubai, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain. They urged the government to allocate Rs 100 crore for the welfare of non-resident Kannadigas and proposed the creation of a separate ministry to address their unique challenges.
The NRI Cell had been inactive for the past five years, leaving non-resident Kannadiga workers without support. Dr. Aarti Krishna emphasized the need to revitalize the cell for the career development of Kannadigas working abroad.
The delegation highlighted various problems faced by non-resident Kannadigas and requested immediate financial assistance of Rs 100 crore. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah responded positively to their request and agreed to establish a separate ministry for NRIs in the state, following the Kerala model.
Among the specific demands were the establishment of a center for the study of Kannada, culture, heritage, and a research center for Indian students in Bahrain, along with skill development facilities to create job opportunities for Karnataka youth in Gulf countries.
Amarnath Rai, President of Bahrain Kannada Sangh, stressed the difficulties faced by laborers trying to transport the remains of deceased family members back to Karnataka. He called for the formation of a high-level committee to address the concerns of non-residents.
The delegation included representatives from various countries, such as Muhammad Mansoor from Bahrain, Ramanand Prabhu from Muscat, Advocate Ibrahim Khalil from UAE, Hidayat Addur from Dubai, and others.
In response, the government promised to establish a separate ministry for NRIs and address the challenges faced by non-resident Kannadigas during the lockdown.
“Non-resident Kannadigas students and workers faced hardship in many ways during the lockdown. But in the coming days any non-resident Kannadigas should be able to lead a comfortable life in the Gulf countries. MLAs of all parties have joined hands in this regard,” Lakshmi Bidar Non-Resident Kannadathi from Qatar said.
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Pakistan reports two more polio cases; Total tally now 52
ISLAMABAD: At least two more cases of poliovirus were reported in Pakistan, taking the number of infections to 52 so far this year, a report said on Friday.
“The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed the detection of two more wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases in Pakistan," an official statement said.
The fresh infections — a boy and a girl — were reported from the Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
“Genetic sequencing of the samples collected from the children is underway," the statement read. Dera Ismail Khan, one of the seven polio-endemic districts of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has reported five polio cases so far this year.
Of the 52 cases in the country this year, 24 are from Balochistan, 13 from Sindh, 13 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.
There is no cure for polio. Only multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the routine vaccination schedule for all children under the age of five can keep them protected.
