Bengaluru, June 13: Prominent NRI entrepreneur Zakariya Jokatte, accompanied by Legislative Council Member Dr Aarthi Krishna, met Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar at his office in Vidhana Soudha on Saturday and discussed issues concerning Non-Resident Kannadigas (NRKs).

Mr Jokatte, who also serves as president of the Saudi Arabia unit of the Karnataka NRI Forum, expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for proposing the establishment of a dedicated Secretariat for Non-Resident Kannadigas.

He also urged the state government to fulfil the Congress party’s election promise of creating a separate Ministry for NRIs and establishing a ₹1,000-crore revolving fund for the welfare and development of overseas Kannadigas.

In a statement issued to the media, Mr Jokatte said: “The announcement of a separate Secretariat for Non-Resident Kannadigas is welcome news for the global Kannada community. I express my gratitude to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwara, KPCC President B.K. Hariprasad and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge for supporting this initiative.”

He added that while a dedicated Secretariat would help address the concerns of NRKs, the government should take the next step by establishing a separate ministry to facilitate greater investment in Karnataka by overseas Kannadigas and generate employment opportunities in the state.

Mr Jokatte also lauded the efforts of Legislative Council Member Dr Aarthi Krishna in advocating a dedicated institutional framework for Non-Resident Kannadigas. He urged the government to induct her into the state Cabinet, stating that she would be an ideal choice to lead the much-awaited ministry for NRIs.