State plans to issue cards for non-resident Kannadigas

Non-resident Kannadiga (NRK) diaspora could soon get NRK cards that the State government will co-brand with leading banks and corporates. The card will help them avail of special discounts at hotels, jewellery showrooms and hospitals, besides providing speedy services in government departments. The proposal to issue NRK cards is part of the NRI policy released here by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday. The proposal also includes an accident cover of up to Rs. 2 lakh for NRK card holders, for a nominal fee, during their visit to India. “The NRI policy will also encourage investments from NRIs in the State and special incentives will be offered to those investing more than Rs. 250 crore. Besides, an (NRI/NRK Entrepreneurs Guidance) cell will be formed under Karnataka Udyoga Mitra,” Industries Minister R.V. Deshpande announced during the unveiling of the policy. It is estimated that about 4 lakh families from Karnataka are living abroad, of which about 1.1 lakh families are in the Middle East and 90,000 in the U.S. There is also a big Kannadiga population in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. In the light of several cases of NRIs being cheated, the NRI Forum — set up in 2008 — will establish an exclusive helpline to provide advisory services on issues related to mobilisation of investments, acquiring and disposing of properties, grievance redressal, and registration of complaints. Among others, the policy seeks to create a network and database of NRKs and organisations, promote art and culture from Karnataka abroad, and offer business incubation centre for NRKs.

On the issue of funding to the NRI Forum to make it more active, the forum’s deputy chairman Aarthi Krishna said she was working with the government in this regard.