The Nava Kerala March was touring the Pathanamthitta district on Saturday after covering Alleppey district where the reception had been marvellous. March arrived at Thiruvalla by 11.30 AM. Thousand of people received and accompanied the march by shouting slogans with enthusiasm defying the scorching sun. The crowd at Thiruvalla was the indication of the participation that followed in the district. Thereafter, Ranny, Pathanamthitta, Konny and Adoor witnessed crowd surpassing one another. From the minority communities, not only the ordinary people but also the priests came forward to greet the march. The districts remaining to cover are only Quilon and Thiruvananthapuram. When the march covered 12 districts of Kerala, we can confirm one thing that the state has never before witnessed a campaign program that has communicated with these many people. The experience of the past 20 days was such a great one that one cannot identify the district that greeted the march, best. The reception accorded to the march can be highlighted as the magnificent example of the magnitude of love and interest the people of Kerala are having on the CPI(M). Above all, it proves repeatedly that this is the only movement that the people look forward with expectation.
The issue highlighted at the media meet at Chengannur before entering the district was that of the problems faced by the Malayalee migrants in the background of the global recession. The problems of pravasi malayalees was one of the issue we have highlighted all through the march. Number of people returning on loosing their job is increasing day by day. The indication is that it is likely to increase in the coming months. Recession has already affected Europe and America very deeply. The number of people loosing their job and the business landing in loss are on the increase. Those who were having high wages are turning without any income all of a sudden. Due to stoppage of construction work thousands of labourers are returning helpless. As the bulk of the NRIs are malayalees, the impact faced by the state is severe. The large scale migration of Malayalees to gulf that started in 70's picked up in 80's. At that stage 5% of work force of the state was in Gulf. By 2001 it rose to 10%. 20% of the income of the state happened to be from those working abroad. This was seven times the assistance the state received from the Central Government. If this income is counted, the income of the state will be 30% higher than that of the All India average. This income is the major factor that strengthens the economy of the state. That means, the problem arising now is not that of pravasi malayalees alone, but is that of the entire nation. The outlook of the party is that this problem shall be viewed in this perspective and all possible measures are to be taken for rehabilitation of the pravasis returning.
While the Central Government has neglected the pravasis, LDF government of Kerala has presented its annual budget with a package worth Rs. 110 Crores for the rehabilitation of pravasis. In reply to the refusal of the Central Planning Commission to sanction the pravasi rehabilitation scheme submitted by the the government of Kerala, it proves how best the state meets its commitment to the pravasi malayalees. In addition to the Rs. 100 Crores loan package and Rs. 10 Crores Welfare Fund contribution for the rehabilitation of returning pravasis, many of the schemes declared in the budget in industrial investment, education etc are also of direct benefit to them. The registration system introduced for collecting the details of gulf returnees is part of the dedication of the government to make the implementation of the schemes orderly and comprehensive. Allocation of Rs. 10 Crores for the pravasi welfare fund that provides assistance for the marriage of the daughters, medical treatment and pension will provide momentum for the implementation of the scheme. CPI(M) is not having any illution that the entire problems of gulf returnees can be solved with this scheme and package. These are only the beginning and part of the measures.
As the major section that gives sizable contribution for strengthening the economy of the state, the pravasi malayalees are to be viewed with much consideration. The state government has got the increased responsibility to implement plans and programs suitable for them. But, it is the central government that can effectively and efficiently intervene in this area by virtue of its role in relations with foreign countries and the problems of resource mobilisation. Pressure has to be built to make them think in these terms. CPI(M) will do everything possible in this respect.
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