more-in The Legislature Committee on the Welfare of Backward Classes and Minorities has recommended to the government to establish an entity for the welfare of non-resident Kannadigas on the lines of NORKA-ROOTS (Non Resident Keralites Affairs). Speaking to presspersons here on Friday, J.R. Lobo, Mangaluru South MLA and committee chairman, said that while NORKA was a government department, ROOTS was a company in which the government of Kerala had a 51% stake and non-resident Keralites had the remaining stake. The company works for the welfare of NRKs in several ways. The Committee, after studying the functioning of NORKA-ROOTS, has urged the government to form a similar organisation in Karnataka for the welfare of non-resident Kannadigas, the bulk of whom hail from coastal Karnataka. Mr. Lobo has urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to earmark at least ?50 crore for seed money for the same in this Budget. The government should also undertake a survey of NRKs to facilitate the smooth functioning of the company, he said. On the lines of ROOTS, the government should open centres to attest different certificates for NRKs at important cities in the State. A job portal to offer overseas jobs to Kannadigas without the interference of middlemen on the lines of www.jobsnorka.gov.in, with the approval of Ministry of External Affairs, should also be created, the Committee stated in its report. An NRI Bhavan offering different facilities should be constructed in Mangaluru for NRKs. The Committee also recommended a single window for investment in Karnataka and encouraging NRKs to begin ventures at home by offering soft loans. The Committee report was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on February 8 and Mr. Lobo said he was hopeful of the government accepting the recommendations.

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