Kerala Govt plans to help amnesty seekers in UAE

"Around 10,000 to 15,000 Malayalees will get the benefit of the amnesty and NORKA (Non-Resident Keralites' Affairs Department) representatives will be sent to Dubai to extend help to them," he told reporters at the cabinet briefing here.

He said the Ministry for Overseas Affairs, Indian Embassy in UAE and Air India have been asked to extend help to those who return.

The government would provide all necessary help to those Keralites who return after availing the benefit of the scheme, he said.

On other cabinet decisions, he said one lakh square feet area would be handed over to student entrepreneurs at the 'Startup Village' in Kochi by 2014.

The Cabinet also sanctioned a proposal to send five young entrepreneurs to visit Silicon Valley in USA to study the working of the units there.

"These young entrepreneurs are determined to change Kerala into a Silicon Valley. Cabinet has approved their request to visit Silicon Valley to study things over there," he said.

With the motto of turning youth from job seekers to job creators, the student entrepreneurship programme announced at 'Emerging Kerala Meet' has invited wide attention and around 400 applications are pending approval. A 10,000 square foot area has been handed over to student entrepreneurs to begin start up villages by KINFRA in Kochi, he said.

"Work is fast progressing for 25,000 square foot area which will be handed over by March 12 2013. The remaining 75,000 square feet area would be handed over by Jan 12, 2014 to them. Apart from this, 25 per cent of land will be allotted for basic facilities.