In order to support and create job opportunities for the influx of NRIs returning to kerala due to job loss, the kerala government has launched a new project. ‘Dream Kerala’ was launched by the state cabinet to support these returning NRIs and to determine how to use their skill sets for the state’s growth. " nri remittances are a huge part of the state’s economy. In 2018, NRIs investments in kerala amounted to Rs 85,000 crore. It could have moved up to 1 lakh crore in the subsequent years. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a financial crisis and 52 percent of NRIs returning to kerala have lost their jobs,” cm Pinarayi stated in his press conference on Wednesday.
The government will hold a Dream kerala Ideathon between July 15 and 30 in order to receive suggestions and ideas from the public on ways to develop the state and create opportunities. The submissions will be reviewed by an expert committee of industry heads and young civil servants, who will pick the best ideas and advise concerned departments on the same.
The expert committee formed for this purpose by the state government will be chaired by former Chief Secretary Dr KM Abraham and include Dr Saji Gopinath, head of kerala Startup Mission, SD Shibulal, former CEO and MD of Infosys, C Balagopal, founder of Terumo Penpol, Sajan Pillai, Founder and Managing partner of Season Two ventures, Byju Raveendran, founder of Byju’s and Abdul Razak, MD of VKC group. On the ideas that have been chosen, the concerned state departments should take a decision on implementing them within a week. The idea can then be implemented over 100 days, the cm added.
