Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Friday urged Malayalees in the U.S.A to contribute liberally to rebuild the flood-hit state and said he hoped Rs 150 crore would be raised from them.
Vijayan made the appeal at his first public function in New York early Friday after completion of his medical treatment.
The Chief Minister, who had left for the U.S for medical treatment at Mayo Clinic on September 2, is expected to be back in Kerala on September 24.
Addressing the gathering of Keralites, Vijayan said everyone should cooperate for revamping the state, which had last month witnessed the worst deluge of the century.
He said Keralites willing to contribute should become members of the global salary challenge, which envisages each participant contributing a month’s salary for the state.
State finance minister Thomas Isaac will visit the U.S next month to collect the financial assistance, he said.
“Only through your cooperation can a new Kerala be built”, he said, adding his government was expecting a contribution of Es 150 crore from the malayalees in US.
At least 493 people had died in the rains and floods during the South West Monsoon.