MOIA demands additional bud support for eco crisis lay-offs

Manash Pratim Bhuyan & Priyanka Tikoo

New Delhi, Jul 1 (PTI) Making out a strong case for
increase in budgetary support, the Ministry of Overseas Indian
Affairs (MOIA) has demanded allocation of additional Rs 100
crore for providing social security net to Indian workers
returning after having lost jobs abroad due to the global
economic crisis.

"We have sought an allocation of Rs 100 crore to
create the fund. I have already made a representation to
Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to give us the amount
in the coming budget," Minister of Overseas Indian affairs
Vayalar Ravi told PTI in an interview.

He said the fund will be utilised to offer help to
those Indian workers who have returned to India from foreign
countries, particularly from the Gulf region, following the
global slowdown.

"This is one of my ambitious schemes to have a welfare
fund for the workers who have comeback to the country after
losing their jobs abroad. I want to give them some kind of
protection," Ravi said adding "there are five million Indian
workers in the Gulf. When they come back, I have to do
something for them."

Although the fund will initially be set up with
budgetary support, the Minister said the contributions of the
overseas employees will also be sought to strengthen it. "I
want to make it a contributory fund."

As per official data, nearly two lakh Indian workers come
back to the country every year and the number has increased
phenomenally in the last one year due to the financial crisis.

Ravi said his Ministry has also sought 50 per cent hike
in budgetary allocation to implement various schemes for
welfare of the overseas workers.

"With the small amount of Rs 55-60 crore, I could manage
work worth Rs 50,000 crore. I represented the Finance Minister
to give us around Rs 85 crore apart from the Rs 100 crore for
the welfare fund," he said.

Asked about his priorities for his Ministry in his
second innings, Ravi said he would like complete the work that
he has initiated in the first tenure.

The Minister said his another big ambition is to create
a fund called India Development Fund through which
Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) would be provided with a platform
to undertake various social welfare projects in rural India.

"It one of my most ambitious programmes. It could spread
its wings all over India. I will try to attract NRIs for any
kind project they want to undertake in rural areas through
this fund," he said.

Ravi said the projects would be implemented by the
Ministry with all "transparency" by taking help of NGOs.

Giving an example, the Minister said if an NRI wants to
build a hospital or a school in a village in India, he can
contribute to the fund and the Ministry would implement the
project.

"It has to take off. We are on the job," he said. PTI