A memorandum was submitted to Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh in New Delhi by the office bearers of All Kerala Pravasi’s and Gulf Returnees’ Co-Ordination Council, requesting to establish the proposed NRI university in Kerala, which was declared by govt. of India during the last Pravasi Bharathi Day Celebrations. The Council Chairman S.Ahmed presented the memorandum in the presence of Vice-Chairman Kadakkal Ramesh.
Out of more than two million Indians working abroad, majority of them are from Kerala. These NRIs are forced to bear huge financial burden, when their children are joining for higher education in foreign universities. A remedy for this problem is to establish a university of international standards in Kerala, so that the higher education of children of NRIs will be less expensive.
Copies of the memorandum was also submitted to Union Human Resources Development Minister Sri.Arjun Singh, Union NRI Affairs Minister Sri.Vayalar Ravi, Union Defence Minister Sri.A.K.Antony, Union Minister Of State for External Affairs Minister Sri. E.Ahmed and Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Sri.T.K.A.Nair. The memorandum also reminded the Prime Minister about the long pending demands of NRIs like voting power and dual citizenship. It was also requested through the memorandum to Prime Minister to establish a rehabilitation board in each state, which will be under the direct control of the Union Government, for the rehabilitation of returned NRIs.
In the meeting held in New Delhi at the residence of Union Defence Minister Sri.A.K.Antony, he offered all assistance as a union minister to the office bearers of Kerala State Pravasi’s and Gulf Returnees’ Co-ordination council for establishing the proposed NRI University in Kerala. He also expressed the opinion that it will be appropriate for the Keralte NRIs, if they could buy the land for the proposed NRI University in Trivandrum or Quilon districts and donate to the state government. Sri.A.K.Antony listened carefully to the demands mentioned in the memorandum and promised to convince the Prime Minister about the need to establish the proposed NRI University in Kerala.
The Co-ordination council, which is the central committee representing more than sixty NRI organizations in the state request the Keralite NRIs to co-operate with this venture.
Chairman: S.Ahamed. Mob:0091 98471 31456
Vice- Chairman,
Kadakkal Ramesh, Mob: 0091 93878 01535