We’re Not Required Indians, rues NRI Kannadiga from UAE

HAVERI: Non-Resident Indians are being treated like Not Required Indians by the government and all, said Sarovttama Shetty, the president of Kannadiga’s UAE.
Delivering the key note speech in the session on Kannadigas in foreign countries, Shetty recalled that Kerala, a small state, brought its residents from the UAE in 68 flights while Karnataka, far bigger than Kerala, could arrange only two flights. “We arrived here by spending exorbitant airfare but faced the new untouchability of Covid by our own people. One thinks that all NRKs are rich. But 90% of NRKs working in Gulf countries are poor,” he said.
He said Kerala has a dedicated minister for NRI issues but the Karnataka government has not made appointments for the NRI Forum, Karnataka, of which the CM is the chairman. He also demanded to hold the Kannada Sahitya Sammelanas in foreign countries.
Dr Arathi Krishna, a former deputy chairman of the NRI Forum Karnataka, said that the government had formed an NRI policy for 50 lakh NRI Kannadigas but it has not been implemented. “Even the JR Lobo report, prepared for the welfare of NRI Kannadigas, is pending before the government,” she said.
Observing Kannada writers abroad, Jyothi Mahadev said that over 150 Kannada writers in the US alone re enriching Kannada literature while about 35 are in Europe. “Apart from writing, they are helping Kannadigas by developing soft ware,” she said.Researcher LS Srinivasamurthy, Germany Kannadiga’s Ravindra Kulkarni, London Kannadiga’s Aswhin Sheshadri presented their views.