Kozhikode: Families of Non-Resident Keralites, who die in harness abroad, will now be eligible to claim compensation without providing indemnity bond, Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NoRKA) Minister M M Hassan said on September 5.

Government took a decision to withdraw the provision after studying the difficulty in obtaining the bonds for claiming the compensation, he told reporters.

Following the decision, a sum of Rs 4.29 crore pending with the state government would now be disbursed to about 300 NRI families belonging to the state. However, succession certificate and identity proof had to be provided as usual while making the claim.

While the compensation was made to the claimant by the employer abroad through the state government only after the three necessary documents were submitted, the minister said the claimants found it quite difficult to obtain the indemnity bond in respect of the claim.

Government had also decided to extend by six months the time-period for Non-Resident Keralites to join service after they passed the state Public Service Commission examination.

Also, age-limit for Keralites returning from the Gulf who wished to appear for government jobs would be relaxed by five years from the present 35 years, Hassan said. The government had sent the proposal to the Centre for final clearance, he added.

PTI