Kochi, March 24: Unrest convulsing the Arab world will cost Kerala dear with hordes of hardworking expatriates from Kerala fleeing the trouble-torn Libya and Bahrain and vowing never to return to the not-so-safe havens. This has put extra burden on the state government, which has to find a way out to rehabilitate the returnees.
Non-Resident Keralites Affairs Department (Norka) secretary T K Manoj Kumar said the department has already started collecting the details of the number of people returned from Libya. A decision on the rehabilitation of the returnees is yet to be taken as the election code of conduct forbids taking any immediate decision.
However, he said the scheme floated for the NRKs when the country was hit by recession can still be utilised by the people who returned from Libya. Kerala Financial Corporation has decided to provide a loan at 7 percent interest and it can be extended to the people in need now. The NRKs, who returned from Libya with their families, have decided not to take their families back to the war-torn country. If the situation returns to normal, the expatriates working in government institutions in Libya will return as their financial settlements have not been cleared.
Nikesh, a native of Kannur and working as a lecturer in Libya University, said he does not know when he can return to Libya. “My visa will expire on August 31. If there is any possibility, I will go back. I left all the belongings there, and as per the agreement with the Libyan Government, they have to settle the financial commitment made with the employees,” he said. Dr Ajith, who came back with wife and two children, said he was not taking his family back to Libya. The children will be admitted to Kerala schools and his wife has already started looking for a job.
There are reports that some Malayalis, mainly those in the health sector, are still in Libya. He, however, said the nurses are unwilling to return as they had to pay around Rs 1 lakh to get a job. Leaving the country will push them to a debt trap. Meanwhile, NRKs from Bahrain said some of the Malayalis are unable to move out of their houses. Some have taken their families to Kerala and will return only if the situation permits.
–Agencies–