DUBAI // One of the UAE's largest expatriate communities is being counted as part of a first-of-its-kind census in India.
The southern state of Kerala started its door-to-door census on May 1 to determine the number of its residents living overseas and their job profiles.
About 2.2 million Keralites live and work abroad, with 875,000 in the UAE and 574,000 in Saudi Arabia.
But it is believed the number in the UAE and elsewhere is "slightly underestimated".
"The figures are varying and we only have an estimate," said Noyal Thomas, chief executive of the Non-Resident Keralites' Affairs Department, a government department tasked with safeguarding migrant rights.
"We are analysing the number of persons who have migrated, how many from each family, to which country they have migrated and what is their work type."
It is believed a large number of the state's residents who live in the UAE and the Arabian Gulf work in the construction industry or in unskilled and semi-skilled jobs.
Kerala has witnessed the largest migration to the Gulf since the 1970s. Its economy has flourished because of remittances - as much as Dh40 billion last year - and the state now has generous welfare schemes for emigrants.
"The largest contingent of migrants are from Kerala," Mr Thomas said. "The stakes are high for the state as 30 per cent of the economy is supported by non-resident Keralites. They are pumping in the money."
The two-month survey, expected to end in July, will determine the state's future policies and subsidies for migrants returning home.
"We want to know the exact number as the government is keen to start giving people returning direct assistance," Mr Thomas said. "Many want to start their own business when they return. It is a costly affair.
"But this is to help policy formulation and find out the quantum of assistance needed. Every year the government has to earmark funds and needs a clear picture for projects and schemes."
Mr Thomas said the government had already allocated 30 million rupees (Dh2m) for an assistance programme planned this year to "rehabilitate" and offer capital subsidies to low-income residents planning to return and start businesses.
Expatriates welcomed the move but said more needed to be done to get accurate data.
"Kerala government is the first state in India trying to get a head count of approximately 2.2 million citizens working abroad," said K V Shamsudheen, chairman of the Pravasi Bandhu Welfare Trust, a social organisation.
But in a letter to the state's chief minister, Oommen Chandy, he wrote: "This census will not give the correct figure ... because more than 10 per cent of Keralites are living abroad with their family.
"There will not be anyone in their house to give the data of members of the house working abroad when enumerators visit."
He said an online survey would help reach out to everyone.
"The only solution to get the data ... is starting a website urgently and requesting Keralites living abroad with their family to enter their data online."
He recommended relying on social organisations overseas to help gather information.
Mr Thomas said his department was considering the proposal.
"We have already provided an online registration facility for expatriates in Saudi Arabia. We can look into this for the UAE, too."