Indian expats in UAE urged to help rebuild Kerala

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Pinarayi Vijayan attending a community event held at the Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club on Saturday. — Photo by Neeraj Murali
Pinarayi Vijayan attending a community event held at the Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club on Saturday. - Photo by Neeraj Murali

Funds from the Rebuild Kerala website will invest in developing the infrastructure, economy and status of Kerala.

By Dhanusha Gokulan

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Published: Sat 20 Oct 2018, 11:30 PM

Last updated: Sun 21 Oct 2018, 1:33 AM

Hundreds of Indian expatriates from Kerala living in Sharjah have pledged to 'rebuild Kerala for future generations, and not the present generation'. Kerala's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan urged non-residents Indians (NRI) to come together to look closely into the tragic circumstances that Kerala flood victims live in, and extend help to build a better future for the state.
Speaking at an event titled 'Together for Kerala' at the Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club on Saturday, the chief minister said: "I am very thankful to the leaders and citizens of this great nation for the love extended to the state and people of Kerala. The UAE has given me a very warm welcome, and I want to thank great rulers of this country for showing compassion to the people of our country." 
He thanked UAE leaders for extending help to Kerala at a time of great need.
"Some of you may have experienced the flood first-hand and some of you would've experienced the disaster through the pain expressed by your loved ones. Most people don't have anything they can call home, and most don't have a space to rebuild a home," he added.
"NRIs wishing to contribute towards state rebuilding efforts were provided with two options. "Every Pravasi (NRI) can partner with Kerala through the Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF) or use the website www.rebuild.kerala.gov.in. In this case, each Malayalee can select the project they would like to be associated with. The funding is fully transparent," added Vijayan.
Funds from the Rebuild Kerala website will invest in developing the infrastructure, economy, and status of Kerala, without compromising its ecological ethics, promised Vijayan.
"This is Kerala's rebirth. This can't happen without the help of Malayalees everywhere," he added. "Several schools have been heavily damaged and those willing to invest in the education sector can do so through the website," he added. Vijayan promised that the relief fund is strictly monitored and socially audited. The CM also urged NRIs to accept the 'salary for a month challenge'.
Urging residents to contribute to the relief fund, Dr K Elangovan, principal secretary, industries and  Department of Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (Norka), said that one in six people in Kerala has been directly affected by the floods.  "Kerala today is not like the Kerala of three months ago. Without the cooperation of NRIs, rebuilding Kerala is not possible," added  Elangovan.
Playing on the words the 'chief minister', Shamsheer Vayilil founder and managing director of VPS Healthcare and main organiser of the event said, "This CM is not just a chief minister. Pinarayi has proven he is a crisis manager as well."
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com  


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