Bengaluru, 30 July

The NRI Forum Karnataka, established to support Kannadigas living abroad, cannot fully carry out its tasks and implement schemes allegedly due to insufficient budget allocation by State government.

The forum, established in 2008 during the tenure of former chief minister BS Yediyurappa, remains stalled without the necessary funds. Speaking to Salar News, Arathi Krishna, Deputy Chairperson of the forum, said: “I have repeatedly asked for funds even before the State budget 2024. I have been assured that there would be an allocation for the forum in the supplementary budget, but nothing materialised.’’

Krishna, inspired by the Non-Resident Keralites' Affairs (NORKA) model, aims to implement a similar structure in Karnataka. She said her department is drafting guidelines and that the forum has recently secured a new office in Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru, with staffing underway.

The former staffer with Indian Embassy in Washington said: “We plan to organise ‘Pravasi Kannadiga Divas’ to bring all Karnataka NRIs together when the NRIs come to India for Bharatiya Pravasi Divas in January.”

Krishna, who took charge in 2014, said the forum plans to issue NRK cards and insurance schemes to those who lost their job while working abroad. “We also plan to provide interest-free loans to NRIs who are interested in business and cultural programmes abroad,’’ she said.

Addressing the financial strain on families repatriating deceased loved ones, Krishna said her department would seek government assistance for this issue.

On voting rights for NRIs, Krishna stated, “I have always supported offering voting rights for NRIs through our diplomatic missions, and this has even been included in the Congress manifesto. It would help our people in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries who are deprived of their voting rights as it is difficult for them to just visit India to exercise their franchise.”

During the recent Assembly session, a group of NRIs from Karnataka observed the proceedings and appealed for government attention to their issues. Krishna also plans to bring various Karnataka associations in the Gulf and other parts of the world under the forum's purview.  -Salar News