Kerala Governor R. S. Gavai said on Wednesday that a new scheme for Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs), who lost their jobs within two years of migration to the Middle East because of the global economic slump, will be launched in the coming financial year.

Gavai said," My government has been implementing various schemes and projects for NRKs and returnees through the Non-Resident Keralites Affairs Department (NORKA). During the present financial year the Non-Resident Keralite's Welfare Act has been enacted and the Kerala Non-Resident Keralite's Welfare Board has also been constituted."

Kerala has more than two million NRKs working outside the country with close to 90 percent in the Middle East and close to a million returnees.

His government has set up a permanent establishment named Malayalam Mission, in order to enable children of NRKs to get acquainted with Malayalam and the Kerala culture, Gavai also said.

Left independent legislator Manjalamkuzhi Ali told IANS that modalities of the scheme for those who have lost their jobs within two years is being worked out.

Ali further said," This scheme is essential because most of these people who go to the Middle East go after spending close to Rs. one lakh and the salary levels for such people is relatively low. And if they lose their job in two years' time, they end up losing a lot of money and it is here that the new scheme could act as a saving grace." (With Input from Agencies)