Price hikes in popular sectors like Dubai – Kochi, and Thiruvananthapuram, reached exorbitant levels, leaving passengers with limited options. The airlines’ exorbitant rates touched Rs 1,04,738 for flights to Kochi and up to Rs 2,45,829 for flights to Thiruvananthapuram. This rate is expected to continue till the end of September.
The Kerala Pravasi Association says that the government has failed to take necessary actions to curb the anti-consumer practices of airline companies, leaving expatriates with no choice but to pay Rs 40,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh for tickets that were previously available for Rs 7,000.
The petition also references the government’s previous intervention in setting fare caps for domestic flights based on flight duration. Currently, the rule states that flights of less than 40 minutes’ duration cannot be charged above Rs 2,900 (excluding GST) and above Rs 8,800 (excluding GST) per passenger.
The petition highlights the need for a similar regulatory approach for international fares. The Kerala Pravasi Association is advocating for necessary amendments to the aircraft rules to establish minimum and maximum fare limits for airlines, providing much-needed relief to travelers.
The Kerala Pravasi Association had also filed a petition in the Delhi High Court and have reached out to Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and the Director General of Civil Aviation, expressing their concerns about uncontrollable fare increases following a directive from the Delhi High Court. This demonstrates their determination to seek a resolution to the ongoing issue.
The petition was filed on behalf of the association by Chairman Rajendran Vellapalath and President, Ashwani Nambarambath.
The expatriate community is grappling with these unjustified fares, prompting the Kerala Pravasi Association (KPA) to take legal action. The KPA has appealed to the Supreme Court of India in case no. 34051/2023 dated 19-08-2023, seeking intervention against the Union Department of External Affairs, Department of Law and Justice, and the Director General of Aviation. KPA claims their contention is rooted in the belief that certain provisions within aircraft rules that enable excessive fare charges are unconstitutional and it is key to establish a range of minimum and maximum fares for airlines. It is only seeking redress through the courts.
While this legal pursuit aims for resolution, the plight faced by the expatriate community is undeniable.
The fact that this matter had to escalate to a court case reflects the struggle of not only the expatriates but also concerned citizens. If the Central Government fails to curtail the airlines’ exploitative pricing tactics, veiled under the economics of supply and demand, expatriates must consider strong and united protests to protect their rights.
It is imperative for all democrats, particularly the diaspora, to rally together and fight for their rights.
As the nation celebrates Onam, it’s a timely reminder that the same appreciation shown for the contributions of expatriates should extend to their rights and well-being as well.
The party has successfully moved ahead in its efforts to build 1000 houses as part of its “Ayiram Veedu” project, for deserving people in the state. As part of this, a ceremony for the handover of the keys for the first two houses was held in Mavur Panchayat last December. Governor of Goa Shri Sreedharan Pillai handed over the keys in the presence of Kozhikode Parliament MP Shri Raghavan.
Along with this, they are committed to creating jobs based on merit, in the country or abroad, with the aim of ensuring employment for at least one person in every household. KPA’s job portal pravasijobs.com will be launched within a few days.
KPA intends to implement these projects with the help of people’s participation and has ensured all legal procedures are being followed to accept CSR, Crowd Funding, and Donations.
Along with this, they are committed to creating jobs based on merit, in the country or abroad, with the aim of ensuring employment for at least one person in every household. KPA’s job portal pravasijobs.com will be launched within a few days.
KPA also continues in its efforts to build 1000 houses as part of its “Ayiram Veedu” project, for deserving people in the state. As part of this, a ceremony for the handover of the keys for the first two houses was held in Mavur Panchayat last December. Governor of Goa Shri Sreedharan Pillai handed over the keys in the presence of Kozhikode Parliament MP Shri Raghavan.
In its efforts to continue its philanthropic activities across the state, the party held various district meetings, ahead of the state representative meetings, which began on April 30 in Kannur.
The Pathanamthitta District Representative Conference took place on July 16, 2023 at the New Indraprastha Hotel, Adoor. Honorable Kerala Pravasi Association National Chairman Mr. Rajendran Vellapalath, National President Mrs. Aswani Nambarambath, and National General Secretary Mr. Jerry Raju were present.
The party will hold its state conference after the completion of all district conferences by the month of August.
Join KPA and let us build a New Kerala together.
The main demand of the petition is that an independent expert panel should be tasked to study the effectiveness of intradermal rabies vaccines (IDRVs). According to the National Center for Disease Control, manufacturing a rabies vaccine for humans is a complex process that requires at least three to four months for manufacturing and testing. The petitioners argued that there have been incidents where the vaccine reached Kerala within 14 days of its manufacture. Kerala Pravasi Association filed a petition in the Supreme Court through KMMNP Law.
KPA also continues in its efforts to build 1000 houses as part of its “Ayiram Veedu” project, for deserving people in the state. As part of this, a ceremony for the handover of the keys for the first two houses was held in Mavur Panchayat last December. Governor of Goa Shri Sreedharan Pillai handed over the keys in the presence of Kozhikode Parliament MP Shri Raghavan.
In its efforts to continue its philanthropic activities across the state, the party held various district meetings, ahead of the state representative meetings, which began on April 30 in Kannur.
The Thrissur District Representative Conference took place on May 28, 2023 at the Thrissur Pearl Regency Auditorium. Honorable Kerala Pravasi Association National Chairman Mr. Rajendran Vellapalath, National President Mrs. Aswani Nambarambath and National General Secretary Mr. Jerry Raju were present at the event.
The party will hold its state conference after the completion of all district conferences by the month of August.
Join KPA and let us build a New Kerala together.
KPA also completed three housing projects in Kozhikode district as part of its “Ayiram Veedu” project. As part of solving unemployment and creating new employment opportunities including for the young generation, new, expatriate jobs are being created and project formulation work is in its final stages. This scheme gives hope to thousands of educated unemployed youth.
The KPA is making a systematic effort to launch its presence in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and become a decisive force in the assembly through the 2026 assembly elections. KPA’s stand against bandhs, hartals and violent protests that make people’s lives miserable has already become the talk of Kerala politics.
The KPA is making a systematic effort to launch its presence in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and become a decisive force in the assembly through the 2026 assembly elections. KPA’s stand against bandhs, hartals and violent protests that make people’s lives miserable has already become the talk of Kerala politics.
The party under its slogan, “Self-sufficient Kerala through expatriates” has constructed houses through its “Ayiram Veedu” project, for two families belonging to the poor and economically backward community. The party is focused on increasing the inflow of youth members through such schemes.
Kerala Pravasi Association National Council Member Mrs. Beena Sunil, Kannur District President Mr. Muhammad Iqbal, Secretary Mr. Rupesh Pullanjiothan and Treasurer Mr. Manoj Mathew also attended the press conference.
The seminar will be organized by including political leaders and experts. The theme of the seminar is “Development Possibilities of Malabar in view of Grasim land in Mavur”. The date of the event will be announced in the near future.
Grasim Industries shut down their company in Kozhikode in 2001, while the land continues to remain in possession of the Birla Group management. 246 acres of the land, which was acquired by the Government in three phases was handed to the company and should have been returned when the wood pulp factory ceased operations. Denial in doing so, provides the government to provision to seize the land.
But even after two decades of its closure the land remains as is. On March 21, 2006 an order for demolition within 30 days was passed, the process was caught in legal wrangles with both the LDF and UDF governments, the Birla Group obtained stay orders from the High Court and ceased all plans to vacate. It continues to remain a mystery that the government reversed the order.
The possibilities on how to utilize the land in a better way that will ensure maximum job opportunities to the people, can lead to a big development revolution in the Malabar area. This was the core purpose behind EMS government’s handing over of the land to the Gwalior Rayons Company as well. Mavur, once known as the “High Wage Island” because of Gwalior Industries , must be given the opportunity to reclaim that title.
KPA demands that the Pinarayi government should honor this and make that dream of EMS a reality. KPA National Chairman Rajendran Vellapalath, Kozhikode District Secretary Mansoor Muin, district committee members Venugopal Vetummal, Shaji MK, Mavur Panchayat Committee Secretary Sajevan led the press conference, asking for an immediate step up
After Chinese students, today Indians make up the largest number of foreign students in countries such as the US, UK and Australia.
By promoting India as a global education hub, the Ministry of External Affairs hopes to retain the estimated 1.3 lakh students (2022 figures) who are studying abroad. According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) this accounts for foreign exchange of Rs 5 billion (FY 2021-2022), which was lost as students chose to pursue their education abroad.
Welcoming foreign universities will pave the way for India to become a global destination for education. This will not only prevent brain drain and financial loss of Indian students studying abroad but also attract foreign students to India. These institutions will also have the autonomy to decide its fee structure and will not face the limits imposed on Indian institutions, as long as they are ‘fair and transparent’. The universities must also ensure they do not offer ‘any such programs which may endanger the national interest of India or the standard of higher education in India.’
A legislative framework facilitating the entry will be put in place, and universities will be given special dispensation regarding regulatory, governance, and content norms on par with other autonomous institutions of India. The Foreign Exchange Management Act will be followed when it comes to situations involving money and funding.
But along with this, it is also time necessary for the government to develop better infrastructure, that will support international students, in the country. Better jobs and better safety must be prioritized. The long term impact on the existing Indian educational institutions may also prove to be beneficial. The current breed of outdated institutions in India will be subject to dose of competition, which will turn to be positive. It will encourage competition among various players in the country and allow faculty-to-faculty research collaboration among various universities.
Such moves should be welcomed at this time when a radical change in the field of education is necessary. Before voicing any opposition, we should be ready to assess how this move will benefit the future of education in India and our future generations. Now is not the time for cynicism and criticism.
KPA wholeheartedly welcomes the decision by the UGC.
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