Report: Shodhan Prasad
Pics: Floyd Kiran
Dubai, Apr 15: Karnataka NRI Forum UAE president Praveen Kumar Shetty called the first meeting on Saturday April 14 evening at Fortune Plaza Hotel, Al Ghusais Dubai with the representatives of various communities of Karnataka residing in the UAE. The meet was to brief the registration process of NRK card for the people of Karnataka which will be issued by the government of Karnataka and also to know the facilities available with the card.
KNRI Forum UAE, a governmental body for Kannadigas in UAE, last year in April was inaugurated in Dubai at the Indian Consulate auditorium and was inaugurated by Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah. Businessman Praveen Kumar Shetty was elected as the first president of this body. Under his leadership this meeting was held on Saturday and with him were general secretary Prabhakar Ambalthere, and vice-presidents Ganesh Rai and M E Moolur on the dais.
Based on the press release made by the Consulate General of India, Dubai, Indian Community Welfare Fund committee member N Mohan briefed on the facilities available at the Indian Consulate for all Indians in respect of any issues or grievances faced by the Indian citizens.
President Praveen Shetty gave detailed information on the KNRI Forum UAE body registration process with Karnataka NRI Forum, permission process, registration for members and providing the NRK card for the members in the meet.
General secretary Prabhakar Ambalthere shared information on the facilities which are available in the NRK card.
They are:
1) Life Insurance for KNRIs
2) Prioritized swift facility available in any of Governmental offices in the District where the card holder belongs to.
3) Loan facility and reasonably reduced interest rates in the State Government recognized banks
4) Around Rs 2 lac grant for family back home, in case a KNRI member meets with a fatal accident or faces unforeseen accidental death, during annual vacation in hometown
5) Governmental support for those KNRIs who opt to start any new business in Karnataka state
6) Support from government for those KNRIs who return from overseas after job loss. Facility in training and re-locating home will be provided by the government.
7) Special discount in state hospitals will be provided for the NRK card holders
8) Tax-free facility for those KNRIs who do or conduct social service back home
9) Special pricings for KNRIs who opt to stay in hotels near tourist places
Joint secretary Deepak Somashekar explained the online registration process for NRK card and briefed that only those persons who fall into the below criteria can register:
1) Minimum 6 months stay in UAE required in the visa validity
2) Passport size photo in digital file should be uploaded
3) Only digital Indian passport with home address should be uploaded
Once the above is done and registration process is completed, one will receive an email confirmation on the registration completion. In a few days' time one will receive the details of the NRK card delivery.
A question and answer session followed.
Vice-presidents of KNRI Forum UAE, Harish Sherigar, Dr Kaup Mohammed, treasurer Sadan Das, joint secretary Noel Almeida and other committee members were present during the meeting. Leaders of various Kannadiga associations in the UAE present have promised that they will request all their members to get registered with the Forum.
KNRI Forum UAE vice-president B K Ganesh Rai conducted the meeting and shared some of the important information one needs to know.
Dinner was served at the end and joint secretary M E Moolur rendered the vote of thanks.