The PBD is always orchestrated by the Pravasi ministry. This time it was jointly hosted by Kerala Govt and the Pravasi Ministry of Vayalar Ravi. Only registred delegates can attend PBD. I had requested all Pravasi organizations, especially the leaders of WMC to register and stand together to include our grievances /issues in the agenda. But the leaders, I regret to state, failed to get the issues properly included in the deliberations and get their views heard in the PBD.

The Kochi PBD was totally highjacked by Middle East delegates and for the two full days only their reps were put in the panels and all the non-Malayalee delegates and non-middle East delegates were totally ignored. Over 500 such delegates were shocked and stood helpless!! Although I tried to crash in on the second day I was not allowed to speak and the Middle East Malayali delegates shouted me down telling that it was their day. Then I met CM privately and presented to him the Petition we prepared for Prime Minister and sought his approval. He told me that he would go through that and inform next day. Accordingly he expressed no objection in sending that to PM. 

On the third day I crashed in to present issues of  all Pravasis other than those in Middle East. Even though a few middle east Malayali leaders  tried to put me down,  at the intervention of CM and Minister KC Joseph I was allowed to speak! [Minister Vayalar Ravi was not present!] I stated openly the objection of not allowing non-Middle East and non-Malayali delegates and their organizations to present their issues and declared that their issues will be directly presented to PM and published through media.  Hon CM Oommen Chandy understanding the fact of 'high jacking' PBD by Middle east malayali delegates openly declared that in future immediately after PBD there will be two days NRK meet in Kerala for all Pravasi Malayali organizations to present their issues and to interact with all concerned Ministries of Govts of India and Kerala. He asked the approval of the delegates and unanimously all agreed to it. He also informed that there will be a Gobal Committee consists of  Pravasi leaders of long track record and representatives of leading organizations from every country to decide the agenda of such NRK meets.[ To make the committee effective the Pravasi organizations must come together and identify their representatives from each country instead of sending a huge crowd of reps that will make the committee and NRK meet ineffective]

Minister Vayalar Ravi was mostly with the PM and president of india on the second and third days of PBD and when the subject of not including reps of non-middle east delegates he repeated his stand that there is no or little  issues for Pravasis from other countries! PBD was a successful' Show case' for the Pravasi ministry and a few groups of Middle East Malayalis. But as in the past it was a disaster for most of the Pravasis!!

Minister Vayalar Ravi's response [ when I met him at the FOMAA meet on Jan 10th at Dream Hotel] to the following issues are given below:

1. Property Protection; .........Respective state govts are taking steps to introduce system / making laws for that.

2. Passport renunciation penalty.........Minister Chithambaram is not listening to him and hence solution is not coming through.

3. Making OCI cards a more effective ID card for Pravasis by integrating it with PAN Card:............... 'Adhar Card' is extended to NRIs and that will solve the issue. Also OCI and PIO cards are merged.

4. Revising the law on Customs rules on Gold and other noble metals...........Finance Ministry is taking steps to do that in the next budget.

5. Introducing Pravasi Commission and Tribunals.............Only at state level it can be done.

I could help the FOMAA leadership to present a MEMORANDUM to Minister Vayalar Ravi who inaugurated FOMAA's single day Kochi meet and all the crucial issues were put on that.  

Now, as we have been always telling, only PM and CMs of different states can initiate steps and ask respective ministers [other than Overseas affair Minister] to resolve issues of most of the  Pravasis, especially fro nonmiddle east countries.

Now my humble suggestion to all Pravasi organizations are the following:

1. Stand together and send their joint representations/ Memorandums/Petitions directly to PM and President of India.

2. Use their influence to put our reps in all NRI set up  of different State Govt and Central Govt organizations/sysyems like NORKA etc.[ In Kerala such agencies are controlled by a few groups  from Middle East and the ministers and bureaucrats dance to their tunes!]

3. Actively participate in PBD and NRI meets deliberations rather than watching it as an obsersever or  by boycotting it.

I am in Kochi for another two weeks and wish to meet Mr. Sebastian, Mr. Elanjippally and other WMC leaders available here in Kerala during this time.

Alex Vilanilam Koshy 

[A liitle 'squirrel']

"ANNAN KUNJUM THANNALAYATHU CHEYYUK