The first Loka Kerala Sabha, a conference of legislators and Parliamentarians as well as scientists, businessmen and technocrats with roots here and drawn from diverse regions of the world, begins here today.

The 'global assembly’ is being envisaged as a novel initiative to mine the global exposure and intellectual resources of the vast diaspora for the State’s development.

Sabha to convene every 2 years

The sabha will convene every two years. Renowned scientists MS Swaminathan, Prahlad Vadekkapad, and George Geevarghese, are among those in the list of participants on the first day.

Thrust areas in which the State seeks global expertise are fiscal management, robotics, molecular chemistry, organic farming, water conservation, nanotechnology, agriculture, biotechnology and renewable energy.

Issues of expat returnees

The second day of the conference will focus on the welfare of emigrants returning home after a long spell abroad. It will closely examine the issue of expatriates being forced to return home due to the increasingly hostile labour policies in their host countries.

Other topics of discussion are medical aid, pension schemes for foreign returnees and the need to provide them with a financial impetus to start businesses in the State. Ensuring the education of children returning home is also a priority area. It will also probe the scope of raising capital from the open market and through crowdfunding, for infrastructure development.

The deliberations over the two days will be codified and presented to the government as detailed proposals.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW