Pravasi Malayali Welfare Association Vows to Fight Corruption, Implement Welfare projects for Overseas Keralites
In addition, there is no protection given for NRK investors who invest their hard earned money in Kerala. The association would form a cell in helping pravasi malayalee investors to invest safely, so that they don't lose their money. A preliminary enquiry would be conducted to ensure whether the complaints are genuine or not.
PMWA is categorised into three wings which cover welfare of overseas pravasis, malayalees who have returned to Kerala after working abroad and malayalees in states outside Kerala.
The Origin in Kollam Spread to 14 Districts
The first branch of the association was formed in Kollam and now there are branches in 14 districts except Palakkad. Outside India it has branches in Abudhabi, Saudi Arabia, Muscat, London and Canada. Currently PMWA has a membership of around 40,000 Pravasis. The other State Committee office bearers are Somarajan.G, State Vice President K.M.Noushad Hussein,State General Secretary; Ibrahimkutty, State Treasurer and A.A.Khader, State Organizing Secretary. Other than that, there are district presidents, vice presidents, general secretaries, treasurers and organizing secretaries in all other districts. A nominal membership fee of Rs. 110/- is taken and a card is issued, which can be used to avail discounts and other facilities that would be provided by the association.
Field workers in various districts - mostly pravasi malayalees - do popularise the association.Around 350 pravasi malayalees are already employed. A stitching center was opened for giving employment to ladies - 80% are widows. The association also aims to link with other malayalee samajams and associations. Twenty five per cent concession is given for pravasi members at Anayadi Hospital.
Achievements
PMWA presented a long list of achievements to its credit. The association, under the leadership of Sreekumar, has helped pravasi malayalees in solving problems and in providing employment. Already a few projects have been implemented by the association - starting witha new Pravasi products making and marketing. A beginning is made by selling dress materials. Another plan is to start a printing press for pravasi malayalees where many people can be employed. Yet another project will be the Pravasi Supermarket where pravasi malayalees who have registered with the association can get jobs and avail of discount facilities of the supermarket.
There is also plan for a pravasi shopping complex and a medical center project to provide life saving medicines available abroad to pravasi malayalees in the state and give free medical care for members of the association. There is a pension scheme for pravasi malayalees in association wit Life Insurance Corporation (LIC). Members will get life-long pension by paying premium amount for five years.
Pravasi Malayalee Association has been formed for the social, economic and cultural development of pravasi malayalees. The objectives set by PMWAinclude providing more employment opportunities for pravasi malayalees and scientific education for their family members .
I N T E R V I E W - Vellayani Sreekukar
Aims of PMWA
For this purpose educational and research institutions would be started. Those pravasis who are interested in industrial work would be given assistance in self-employment schemes.
The economically backward pravasis would be given financial assistance to get their daughters married. Facilities for scholarships would be provided for meritorious children. Arrangements would be made for their higher studies in foreign universities, Sreekumar revealed his ambitious plans.
Another aim of PMWA is to start hospitals, health centers and medical shops to provide employment to pravasi malayali families as well as free and expert treatment. Life-saving medicines, which are available only in foreign countries would be made available for treatment. "Another aim of the Association is to provide social protection for the families of malayalees abroad. Steps would be taken to make available various welfare projects of the central and state governments. It has also chalked out plans to work in cooperation with the central and state governments to organise projects for increasing Non Resident Keralites investment in agriculture and industry.
Pravasi Counselling Centers
District level Pravasi Counselling centres would be started to improve welfare of NRK families.For finding talents (sports and arts) and their promotion by conducting arts and sports competitions. the association will organize fairs and Pravasi kudumbasangamam (family get together) at the district and state levels to bring together pravasi malayalees.
Trading and cooperative banks with major cooperation of pravasis would be started for Pravasi development . Pravasi Malayalee Legal aid cell would be formed to help solve problems of NRKs A pravasi malayalee family help fund of Rs. 1 lakh would be formed to help NRK families who have died following accidents or disaster abroad.
PMWA also aims to bring all the organizations and associations working for the welfare of the pravasi malayalees in India and abroad, together under a common wing. PMWA is a new venture started for ensuring full assistance to the pravasi malayalees and it can be hoped that the association would be of great assistance to keralites working outside the state especially abroad.
Let us keep our fingers crossed and watch the young welfare association, which has just joined the league of several other counterparts which entered and disappeared from the welfare map. Keralamonitor and its viewers offer full support to the young organization and its young state president. -Keralamonitor.com
KM Correspondent
