Making out a strong case for increase in budgetary support, the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has demanded allocation of additional Rs 100 crore for providing social security net to workers returning after having lost jobs abroad due to the global economic crisis.

"We have sought an allocation of Rs 100 crore to create the fund. I have already made a representation to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to give us the amount in the coming budget," Minister of Overseas Indian affairs Vayalar Ravi said.

He said the fund will be utilised to offer help to those Indian workers who have returned to India from foreign countries, particularly from the Gulf region, following the global slowdown.

"This is one of my ambitious schemes to have a welfare fund for the workers who have comeback to the country after losing their jobs abroad. I want to give them some kind of protection," Ravi said adding "there are five million Indian workers in the Gulf. When they come back, I have to do something for them."

Although the fund will initially be set up with budgetary support, the Minister said the contributions of the overseas employees will also be sought to strengthen it. "I want to make it a contributory fund."