Mangaluru: Following a leadership change in the state government, the long-pending demand for a sector-specific ministry for non-resident Indians (NRIs) has come back into focus. On Tuesday, Ronald Colaco, an NRI and philanthropist, along with MLC and AICC secretary in charge of the Indian Overseas Congress and vice-chairperson of the foreign affairs department, Dr. Arathi Krishna, met Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. They sought clarification on his recent announcement regarding the establishment of a non-resident Kannadigas secretariat.
CM's Assurance on Ministry Formation
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar reportedly stated that a non-resident Kannadigas ministry will first be established under the Chief Minister of Karnataka, supported by the necessary secretariat and departments, along with an allocation of the required budget. He indicated that it would be his prerogative to later hand over this ministry to an appropriate person.
Detailed Discussion and Suggestions
A detailed note on the matter was presented during the discussion by financial adviser and chairman of the business corridor LK Atheeq. Colaco and Dr. Arathi Krishna also urged that their suggestions be considered before finalizing the objectives, departmental structure, and policies. The Chief Minister has agreed to this request.
Colaco's Emphasis on Institutional Mechanism
Colaco stated that although engagement with overseas Indians has improved in recent years, the lack of an independent body focused on NRI matters has meant that key issues remain unresolved and policy implementation is scattered. He referred to the scale of the diaspora’s economic and strategic role, including remittances, potential investment, and international influence, as reasons for a more specialized governance setup. “NRIs remain one of India’s strongest global assets, but institutional mechanisms must evolve to match their growing importance,” Colaco said, urging changes that would ensure clearer accountability and quicker responses to diaspora-related concerns.
