Land Sought for Kerala Family Township, Cultural Center project in Sharjah

Sharjah - CM says UAE interested in Ayurveda-tourism projects in Kerala

The Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has requested the Sharjah government for concessional land to develop a Kerala Family City that will provide affordable accommodation to Keralites expatriates who are currently reeling under heavy rental expenses.

Addressing a crowded press conference in Dubai, the CM said he had fruitful meetings with the concerned officials in the UAE including the Sharjah Ruler and Member of the Supreme Council of UAE and among a list of requirements submitted to the Sharjah ruler includes a proposal to develop affordable community living facility for which land is to be provided by the Sharjah Government. The proposed township will provide affordable housing to Keralite families who can share the cost of building the township and save the higher rental expenses that they currently incur.

"We have made a request for land to be made available for a Family City, where Keralite expatriates can live together. Instead of paying heavy rent, they can invest and own their own house," the Chief Minister said, adding that it will be great relief to community members. "It is only a proposal that we have made and if land is made available, community members can develop affordable housing," the Chief Minister said. He said the details will be worked out and the first priority is to get land for the project. Many Keralite families have either send their families back to India or live in sharing accommodation to circumvent high rent and an affordable Family Township, similar to various Sheikh colonies in Dubai, will be a great relief for them, according to community members.

The Sharjah Ruler Dr Sultan bin Mohammed al Quasimi has been generous to donate land for Indian community schools, a crematorium and other community facilities in the Emirate.

Another request is to develop a Kerala Cultural Center in Sharjah for improving the cultural and educational relationship, schools and healthcare facilities starting with primary clinics for the community educational and medical requirements here, he said.

The initial discussions with Dubai Holding has been encouraging and the completion date of Smart City Kochi, an IT joint venture project of Kerala Government and Tecom Investments under Dubai Holding, is advanced by one year to 2021.  Based on the healthy business relationship between Kerala and the UAE, new initiatives are expected in developing Ayurveda, Kerala's traditional medicinal system popular all over the world and tourism utitlising its traditional knowledge, natural beauty and landscape.

"Dubai has made rapid progress in developing world class tourism projects and the city is a live example of how a desert environment can be converted into world famous tourism spots. Kerala is blessed with natural beauty and a number of lakes, backwaters and a long coastal area. Dubai Holding has shown keen interest in taking part in developing various sectors in Kerala -digital Kerala, as well as tourism and ayurveda. "We are planning to develop a world class Research Institute for Ayurveda in Kerala and the UAE partners are keen to be part of the Ayurveda projects. We plan to develop Ayurveda in the UAE as well," the Chief Minister said.

The Central Government has already made a separate ministry, Ayush Ministry to promote Ayurveda globally. Kerala State, where the thousands of years old medicinal system developed, is a major medical tourism attraction. The initial interest of UAE partners in these projects is encouraging, the Chief Minister said. He was selected as the News Person of the Year by the UAE based Malayalam Radio Station, Radio Asia, 1269 which presented the title to the Chief Minister in a public programme. Listeners have selected Pinarai Vijayan from a long list of over 50 celebrities from various sectors and the Kerala Chief Minister is selected the News Maker of 2016. Brij Bellah, CEO of Radio Asia and other RJs have jointly conferred the award to the CM. He also attended a Kairali TV NRI Business Award ceremony in which mega star Mammottty was also present.

The CM said the Air Kerala project, an airline of Kerala, is no more in existence and airline related issues are being discussed with the Central Government. The Chief Minister said NORKA department is being expanded to give more representation to Keralite expatriates. A huge crowd started flowing to the Amphitheatre in Dubai Media City for a public programme of the Chief Minister, the last public event in his four-day visit to the UAE, the first foreign country that he chose for his overseas trip.
At the meeting at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced a series of schemes to help Keralite expatriates.
Some major projects are:

> Financial support to repatriate dead bodies, especially for those who cannot afford to do so.

> Shelters for expatriates losing job and facing other difficulties

> Financial aid to continue the schooling of students whose parents lose their job and return home in distress

> Medical repatriation of patients, to be arranged in collaboration with insurance companies

> Pension scheme which offers one-month salary for expatriates who worked abroad for one year

> Special pension scheme for the aged and physically disabled expatriates

> Training for expatriates who return to the state

> A new job portal for expatriates to be launched, covering their names, skills, educational background

> Regulating recruitment and blacklisting fraudulent recruiters

> Job training in Kerala for overseas jobseekers

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