The Kerala Pravasi Association (KPA) formed under the leadership of expatriate Indians has been approved by the Election Commission of India. KPA was formed with a vision to be a political party with new ideas that will replace the anti-democratic and opportunistic politics of the country’s fronts.

The Kerala Pravasi Association’s entry into politics is under the slogan “Self Sufficient and Self Reliant India” through Pravasi’s. The initial mission of the Kerala Pravasi Association’s is to implement the NRIs’ vision in 36 key areas related to the daily lives of the people of India. These include poverty alleviation, agriculture, dairy development, elimination of unemployment, infrastructure development (drinking water, housing, health care, etc.), environmental protection, energy , clean Kerala, Insurance, renewable energy , electric vehicles, drug-free Kerala, e-Governance, women safety and empowerment and more.

Kerala Pravasi Association’s activities has started from Kerala as it is a state with a diaspora based economy only. The expat community, which accounts for over one third of Kerala’s population, contributes about 37 per cent of Kerala’s GDP. Despite this, successive governments and mainstream political parties have failed to include the expatriate community in the development of state.

Kerala Pravasi Association is very committed to its cause and does not engage in any form of activities such as bandhs and hartals, destruction of public property and stagnation of public life, as being practiced by other political parties.

Kerala Pravasi Association functions by forming Panchayat, Municipal, Corporation, District and State Committees under a 36 member National Council that includes members from all the 14 districts of Kerala and other states.

Through the Kerala Pravasi Association’s Website (www.keralapravasiassociation.com), all Indians above the age of 18 including the country’s expatriate population, have the opportunity to become active members of the association by gaining Ordinary Membership and Active Membership from June 1.

KPA is committed in leveraging the knowledge and skills gained from the diaspora, high work culture, advanced technical knowledge, advanced job training, sense of purpose and dedication and commitment to work for the betterment of the country. KPA is committed to implement the views of expatriates on matters related to the daily lives of the people.

As a first step, Kerala Pravasi Association (KPA) have said that expatriates are not been able to exercise their right to consent and participate in the democratic process by casting votes in their home country as they lead an expatriate life despite being Indian citizens. Kerala Pravasi Association has approached the Supreme Court with the intention of getting Pravasi the right to vote.

At the same time, Kerala Pravasi Association has also approached the High Court against the negligence of the State Government in not taking a favorable approach to include Kerala expatriates over the age of 60 years, in the Pravasi Welfare fund Scheme of the State Government, despite the High Court directing in August 2020 to raise the age limit for membership.

The party has also announced a recruiting company called pravasijobs.com that will operate with the aim of eradicating unemployment of around 40 Lakhs educated youths in the State and the rest of the Country. The Kerala Pravasi Association has also decided to organize job fests in different parts of the country as part of promoting pravasijobs.com.

Other new ventures like keralastartup.com will be launched to find and promote startups from conception. The Kerala Sree project has been formulated for the empowerment of women. It will implement the necessary schemes to make women self-sufficient.

The Kerala Pravasi Association will now be active in Indian politics as a pressure force before the government on all issues related to Pravasi Indians as well as to raise the issues faced by the common man in India.

The Kerala Pravasi Association, founded and led by expatriates, is moving ahead with its membership campaign as they look to grow their active member partnerships. Several ward-based committees have been put in place across all districts in Kerala. The goal of these ad hoc committees will be to establish as strong upper committee through democratic elections, following which they will be made void.

Any Indian citizen of this country over the age of 18 years can become a member of KPA. KPA has adapted a transparent working style that will be led by a strong expatriate community whose main goal will be to address the basic needs and affairs of our fellow citizens and raise their standard of living.

Since its launch, KPA has faced several backlash as our goals and values have threatened other movements .

On one hand, minorities are being discouraged from joining KPA by calling it a Hindu bias and on the other hand, party members have been barefacedly called creators of Muslim appeasers.

Propaganda is active but KPA remains steadfast in their goals to bring the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to power in Kerala. KPA is committed to push Kerala forward and denounce the previous and existing ruling parties, who have done nothing for this country. Nepotism, corruption and the archiac thinking of the leaders have left Kerala at a standstill.

Expatriates are the backbone of this country and continue to be neglected in every field. To lead this country to self-sufficiency, the diaspora community must stand unitedly with the people of this country. Let vested interests throw stones. The KPA will respond not with words, but with actions that join them together.

To every expatriate out there, KPA asks them to contemplate what is best for them. Do you want to spend more time supporting traditional politics that are unfit to last? Do you want to be part of a new political culture where political workers have not been devalued in this country?

Think and choose for yourself!

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‘പ്രവാസികൾക്ക് വിദേശത്ത് വോട്ട് ചെയ്യാൻ അവസരം’: പ്രവാസി അസോസിയേഷൻ്റെ ഹർജിയിൽ സുപ്രീംനടപടി നോട്ടീസയച്ചു

പ്രവാസികളുടെ വോട്ടു മായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട മറ്റ് ഹർജികൾകൾക്ക് ഒപ്പം ഈ ഹർജിയും പരിഗണിക്കാമെന്ന് സുപ്രീം കോടതി ഇന്ന് വ്യക്തമാക്കിയിരുന്നു.

ദില്ലി: കേരള പ്രവാസി അസോസിയേഷൻ്റെ ഹർജിയിൽ കേന്ദ്രത്തിനും തെരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പ് കമ്മീഷനും നോട്ടീസ് അയച്ച് സുപ്രീംകോടതി. വോട്ടർ പട്ടികയിൽ പേരുള്ള പ്രവാസികൾക്ക് വിദേശത്ത് തന്നെ വോട്ട് ചെയ്യാൻ അവസരണം നൽകണമെന്ന് ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടാണ് കേരള പ്രവാസി അസോസിയേഷൻ സുപ്രീംകോടതിയെ സമീപിച്ചത്.   പ്രവാസികളുടെ വോട്ടുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട മറ്റ് ഹർജികൾകൾക്ക് ഒപ്പം ഈ ഹർജിയും പരിഗണിക്കാമെന്ന് സുപ്രീം കോടതി ഇന്ന് വ്യക്തമാക്കിയിരുന്നു.

ഏറെക്കാലമായി ചർച്ചകളിലുള്ള പ്രവാസി വോട്ടുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ടാണ് സുപ്രീംകോടതിയിൽ ഇപ്പോൾ പുതിയ ഹർജി ലിസ്റ്റ് ചെയ്യപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുന്നത്. വോട്ടർ പട്ടികയിൽ പേര് ചേർത്തിട്ടുള്ള പ്രവാസി ഇന്ത്യക്കാർക്ക് തെരെഞ്ഞെടുപ്പുകളിൽ ബൂത്തുകളിലെത്താതെ വോട്ട് ചെയ്യാൻ സംവിധാനങ്ങൾ ഒരുക്കാൻ നിർദേശിക്കണമെന്ന് ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടുള്ള ഹർജിയിലും സുപ്രീംകോടതി കേന്ദ്രത്തിൻ്റേയും തെരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പ് കമ്മീഷൻ്റേയും നിലപാട് തേടിയിട്ടുണ്ട് . പ്രവാസി വോട്ടുകളുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ടുള്ള വിവിധ ഹർജികൾ ഇന്ന് പരിഗണിച്ച ചീഫ് ജസ്റ്റിസ് എൻ.വി.രമണ വിഷയത്തിൽ നിലപാട് വ്യക്തമാക്കാൻ ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ട് കേന്ദ്രസർക്കാരിനും കേന്ദ്ര തെരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പ് കമ്മീഷനും   നോട്ടീസ് അയക്കുകയായിരുന്നു.  കേരള പ്രവാസി അസോസിയേഷനായി പ്രസിഡൻറ് രാജേന്ദ്രൻ വെള്ളപാലത്ത്, അശ്വനി നമ്പാറമ്പത് എന്നിവരാണ് ഹർജി സമർപ്പിച്ചത്. ഹർജിക്കാർക്കായി അഭിഭാഷകരായ കുര്യാക്കോസ് വർഗീസ്   ശ്യാം മോഹൻ എന്നിവർ ഹാജരായി.  ദില്ലിയിലെ കെഎംഎൻപി ലോ ഫേമാണ് ഹർജി ഫയൽ ചെയ്തത്.

India’s first Lok Sabha had 23 women. But even after 60 years of Independence, there are only 59 women in the Lok Sabha. It would be a shame to say that it delivered as much as it did with all the reservations. India ranks 20th from the bottom in terms of representation of women in Parliament. This despite holding posts of president and prime minister as well as chief ministers of various states.

The problem goes beyond India. Even today, only 17 per cent of representatives in the US government are women.

India has an almost 50 per cent female population today. So, Why aren’t more women raising their voice on political opinions? Are women not environmentally conscious? Is there a lack of economic, social, historical and scientific awareness? Or do women simply dislike political matters and topics?

Good democracy can be implemented by conscious people and any women’s issue is a political issue. It should be solved politically. Unfortunately, due to tens of thousands of years of slavery and gender discrimination, women’s voices, experiences, and contributions are overlooked or undervalued, discouraging them from taking a political stand.

The Kerala Pravasi Association is working for to bring this change through their ‘Kerala Sree’ program that will tap into the potential of Indian women and bring more opportunity for economic growth and development. The program plans to implement necessary schemes to make women self-sufficient.

Kozhikode, also known as Calicut was once capital of the powerful Zamorins and a prominent trade and commerce center. The city continues to be a center of flourishing domestic and international trade but is also known for its serene countryside, pristine beaches, historic sites, calm backwaters, wildlife sanctuaries and so much more. Chaliyar, Kallai Puzha, Kadalundi and Mithaitheru is a scenic land.

Popular with both tourists and traders, the city deserves to have a light metro, said the Kerala Pravasi Association.

“The demand for a light metro in Kozhikode, the center of Malabar, is years old. A metro city will initiate connectivity through its historical land including cities like Kanolikanal, Mananchira, Mithaitheru, Valiyangadi, Kallai Puzha, Katappuram and Kutchira.”

Metro is essential to avoid incessant traffic jams within the city and allows for better reach and connectivity. There is no doubt that metro will be a success in Kozhikode city which is also home to the country premier educational institutions like IIM Kozhikode and CyberPark Kozhikode.

A 2500-cr Light Metro project, covering a distance of 13.33 km, was previously approved in 2017, which never saw the light of the day.

“Kozhikode’s light metro is always at the top of the manifesto during elections. Once the votes are counted, the Metro will become the word of politicians who will never follow through. A Light Metro should be implemented to change the face of the city like it did in Kochi. The Light Metro is a must in Kozhikode city for the state development boom.”

“Let’s join our hands and work towards realizing this dream for the development of Kozhikode,” said KPA.

The trend of launching an assaultive against expatriates each time a virus outbreak occurs, should be stopped, said the Kerala Pravasi Association (KPA).

The party’s comments came after the first case of Monkeypox was detected in the country when a person who returned to Kerala from the Middle East was hospitalized and later tested positive for the disease, as confirmed by Health Minister Veena George.

The news about the case has seen a spew of hate comments and anger towards the expat population in the UAE and across the Gulf countries.

“The initial reaction by the ruling party is to blame their shortcomings on others. Despite showing all the symptoms, the health department did not test the young man as required and sent him home. The government’s laxity in being prepared and having a contact list ready is evident.”

A large number of doctors and nurses from Kerala work in various countries. There are students who pursue medical courses abroad. These categories face the occupational hazard of viral attacks. In order to cover their failures and ability to curb the spread, the blame is shifted to these expatriates, calling them ‘disease carriers’.

“What is needed is a coordinated multidisciplinary  approach to effectively and efficiently tackle the global emergence and re-emergence of these diseases.”

“For expatriates, this bias faced by expatriates from the government is déjà vu, one that we saw during the Covid period.”

“The government cannot run away from its responsibility to prevent the epidemic. Strict restrictions were imposed on non-residents during the Covid-19 pandemic. The psychological effects of the stress and discrimination face by expatriates during Covid  are still present. Expatriates who returned home following all the guidelines laid down by the government. Many of these people returned home after losing their jobs and livelihoods, only to face more emotional torture to reach home. “

“The Government treated our returning expatriates as second-class citizens. It’s time for the Government of Kerala to assess the activities of the health department in foreign countries, especially in the Gulf countries, during the epidemic phases.”

“Across the Gulf countries, the Covid pandemic was handled with much vigilance without affecting anyone’s lives. The State must also understand the benefits given by each country to their health workers and front-line fighters of Covid.”

“Expatriates are the backbone of Kerala and there is no doubt how much the expatriates have reached out to residents in India during the Covid crisis. Efforts from some quarters to isolate the ever-neglected diaspora in the name of Monkeypox cannot be accepted.”

Local administrations hold the baton in the development of any society. Gandhi’s Panchayat Raj was implemented by the government through local self-government bodies. It was the most ideal approach to initiate both political and economic democracy at the grassroots level.

The role played by Panchayats, Municipalities and Corporations for the social reform of a region cannot be underestimated. It is the local self-government bodies that deal with all the small and big issues of each region, with the transference of power to the lower rungs of the political order.

Local Government ensures public amenities and services which are necessary for the convenience, healthful living and welfare of the individual and the community are duly provided. It is the need of the country to maintain these local institutions else face a complete dislocation of social and economic life of the community.

However the future of the local governance looks bleak in the situation where the ruling government withholds or reduced the funds towards these self-government bodies. The lack of finance and funds restrict them from formulating an annual plan and thus development work is affected.

The Kerala state government was called out for withholding funds allocated to these local bodies in the current Budget to offset the revenue crunch caused by the State’s fiscal mismanagement. This was recently brought to light by the leader of the Opposition, V. D. Satheesan at a Budget session of the Kerala Assembly.

The Kerala Pravasi Association (KPA) stated that this decision of the government will only serve to create administrative stagnation at the local level.

KPA added that the funds due to these local self-government institutions be restored with immediate effect and restore the Budget’s credibility.

The Indian Immigration Act of 1984 should be comprehensively amended. Speaking about the welfare of non-resident Indians across the Gulf countries, the Kerala Pravasi Association (KPA) said in a recent statement that the country needs new Immigration laws that follow a thorough comprehensive policy for overseas recruitment and general welfare of non-resident Indians.

“Absence of a proper immigration law is a setback for Indian workers abroad.

“Indian workers are continuously being exploited in foreign countries. These workers board the plane with high expectations and there must be firm laws designed to protect them. Countries must remain responsible for their citizens living abroad.

There has been a disparity in the attitude of our government, especially the Department of External Affairs, in this regard and it is time for change.”

“Central and state governments together must take the initiative to implement reforms that will help overseas Indians, who play a crucial role in the economic growth of the country. The Government cannot neglect the expatriates anymore.”

India still follows the British India Emigration Act, which was enacted in 1922 by the occupying British government, to evacuate workers from India to foreign countries. Even after decades of independence, the successive governments have not changed this. After constant pleas and interventions by the expatriate community, in 1983 the Indian government renamed the old British act into the ‘Indian Emigration Act’ without making any significant changes to the Act.

“Even after all these years, there is no wage protection or legal protection that Indian citizens living abroad are legally entitled to.”

“It is time for change. It is time to reform the Immigration Act and set up a Central Government Department of Migrant Workers for the welfare, protection and promotion of migrant workers and overseas Indians. The outdated 1983 Immigration Act, which only regulates the entry and exit of people across the border must be overhauled and formal immigration policies must be set,” emphasized KPA.

According to figures released by the International Organization for Migration (UN-IOM) World Migration Report 2020, there are 18 million migrants from India.

“It is terribly saddening that there is no independent immigration department or laws to handle the plight of many non-resident Indians, their welfare and other concerning matters.”

The Kerala Pravasi Association (KPA) has demanded that the central government urgently create a special immigration department and implement laws that solely address the needs, inadequacies and welfare of expatriates living abroad.

Airfares to India from the UAE and Saudi Arabia have skyrocketed making it difficult for expatriates looking to return home during the the Eid holidays. Speaking about the plight of non-resident Indians, the Kerala Pravasi Association (KPA) demanded that air fares be capped immediately.

”The government should clamp down on the airlines that prey on Gulf passengers. During the festive season airline companies increase ticket prices and this is detrimental to passengers looking to reconnect with their families -for many, after a long hiatus due to the pandemic.”

“Even Air India saw fares escalate by nearly ten times. This is a scam that has been going on for years. The central government refuses to raise their voice against this covetous attitude of the airlines,” the party said in a statement.

“Gulf expatriates are slowly returning to normalcy after two years of Covid, when a large majority of people could not visit their families. The Eid holidays have traditionally been a period to return home but the airline companies and their  inhumane approach of doubling airfares even on short-haul flights, have denied many the chance to reconnect with their families.”

When services resumed on May 25, 2020 after a two-month lockdown due to the pandemic, the government had capped domestic flight fares based on flight duration.

According to this, for flights of less than 40 minutes duration, a passenger should not be charged less than Rs 2,900 (excluding GST) and not more than Rs 8,800 (excluding GST).

The Kerala Pravasi Association (KPA) demands that a similar model be set to regulate air fares from the Gulf states too.

“It is imperative that the Ministry of Civil Aviation intervene immediately to stop this exploitation by the airlines.”

Kerala Pravasi Association members of the UAE Chapter and volunteers conducted their 2nd Blood Donation Campaign at the Latifa Hospital, Dubai, on Friday, September 10, 2021.