Raising the hope of harnessing expatriate experience to spur the State’s development, the Loka Kerala Sabha will meet for its inaugural session at the Assembly complex here on Friday.
The assembly of legislators, Parliamentarians and an eclectic mix of 177 expatriates drawn from diverse regions of the world is depicted as a ground-breaking bid to collectively bind the vast diaspora of Keralites to all aspects of their home State’s development.
Sabha members
The emigrant members of the sabha come from diverse backgrounds. On one end of the spectrum are scientists, businessmen and technocrats.
The State hopes to benefit from their expertise in varied fields, including fiscal management, robotics, molecular chemistry, organic farming, water conservation, nanotechnology, agriculture, biotechnology and renewable energy. M.S. Swaminathan, Prahlad Vadekkapad, and George Geevarghese are among the global names.
On the other end are writers such as Benyamin who famously portrayed the sorrow and travails of a migrant worker in Saudi Arabia in his influential work Aadu Jevitham . Najib, a scrapyard worker, who played the protagonist in a film based on the novel is also a member of the Sabha.
The second day of the session will intensely focus on the welfare of emigrants returning home after long spells abroad. The sabha will lay particular emphasis on expatriates forced to return home due to the increasing native labour policies in their host countries.
The deliberations will pivot on medical aid, pension schemes for foreign returnees and provide them with a financial impetus to start businesses in the State. Ensuring the education of children of expatriates forced to return home is also a priority area. The sabha will ponder how to amass capital for infrastructure development from the open market and through crowdfunding. The deliberations over the two days will be codified and presented to the government as detailed proposals.
To meet every two years
The sabha is scheduled to convene every two years. Chief Secretary Paul Antony is its secretary general. At 9.30 a.m., he will make a declaration on the sabha’s formations and its purpose. The members will take a joint pledge and assume their responsibilities. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the leader of the sabha, will deliver the inaugural address. Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala, the deputy leader of the Sabha, will speak next.
Subsequently, Rajya Sabha Deputy Speaker P.J. Kurien, Union Minister of State for Tourism K.J. Alphons, Administrative Reforms Commission chairperson and former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, former Union Minister for Non-Resident Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, and noted NRI businessmen will speak on their vision for Kerala.
Curtains will go down on the first day with a cultural programme scripted by poet Prabha Varma. Musician Sarath has set the score for the multi-media show, which will have different elements. Pramod Payyanoor and Jayaraj Warrier will host the programme.
