Relief for Malayali expats: Faster Indian Embassy access and Aadhaar services soon

Kozhikode (Kerala): A meeting of the Legislative Assembly Committee on the Welfare of Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs) has decided to set up a system to enable ordinary people to contact Indian embassies quickly.

Collector M S Madhavikutty informed the committee that measures will be taken to swiftly dispose of applications related to Aadhaar cards, electoral identity cards and similar documents during the short periods when NRIs visit home on vacation.

Representatives from various NRI organisations raised complaints at the meeting regarding issues such as suspended Pravasi Welfare Fund pension payments, delays in receiving pensions and the non-time-bound processing of applications for welfare fund membership.

The representatives requested an increase in the medical aid of ₹50,000 currently provided through the Norka Santhwanam scheme, alongside the time-bound release of medical assistance and ex-gratia death benefits.

Demands were also made at the meeting to raise the age limit for joining the Pravasi Welfare Fund to 70 years, to provide financial aid for returning NRIs to start business ventures, and to make necessary amendments to rules where benefits are being denied due to various reasons.

The meeting was chaired by Committee chairman Parakkal Abdulla MLA and attended by MLAs K M Abhijith, Pazhakulam Madhu, Muhammed Muhassin, M Vincent, and Xavier Chittilappilly, along with Norka Committee Joint Secretary M Jayasree, ADM K Sherina and representatives of various NRI organisations.