Kerala Seeks Special Package From Centre As 10 Lakh Expats Return After Job Loss

Kerala finance minister said the situation the state is undergoing will be taken up with the Centre as a large number of the expat population was forced to return home due to COVID-19.

Around 14 lakh expatriates have returned back to Kerala, of which about 10 lakh have cited job loss due to COVID-19, informed Kerala Finance Minister KN Balagopal on Thursday. Replying to a query in the Kerala Assembly on Thursday, the Finance Minister said that Kerala would request for a special COVID package from the Centre considering the issues faced by the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) population who were forced to return home. "The peculiar situation Kerala is undergoing will be taken up with the Centre as a large number of the expat population was forced to return home due to COVID. Also, the plantation sector in the state is under severe financial distress. During the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had taken up the issues. All MPs from Kerala should jointly take up the matter," he said. Due to various challenges including the COVID-induced lockdown, Mr Balagopal said the state is reeling under a serious financial crisis in the ongoing financial year too.