NORKA

The Department of Non-Resident Keralites’ Affairs (NORKA) is a unique initiative of the Government of Kerala, established to address the concerns, welfare, and reintegration of Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs) living outside the state and abroad. Created in 1996, NORKA is the first state-level department in India dedicated exclusively to the welfare of its diaspora. It functions as a liaison agency between the state government and Malayali communities across the globe, ensuring that their rights, needs, and interests are effectively represented and protected.

Background and Establishment

Kerala has one of the largest diaspora populations in India, with more than 2.5 million Keralites residing abroad—particularly in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Since the 1970s, migration has been a defining feature of Kerala’s socio-economic development, contributing significantly to household income and the state’s economy through remittances.
However, large-scale migration also brought numerous challenges:

• Exploitation and hardship faced by migrant workers abroad.
• Lack of institutional mechanisms to support returning migrants.
• Absence of coordination between various government agencies dealing with expatriates.

Recognising these issues, the Government of Kerala established NORKA in 1996, aiming to strengthen ties with the diaspora, protect their welfare, and facilitate reintegration of returnees. In 2002, the government further institutionalised its activities by creating a public sector undertaking, the NORKA-ROOTS, to serve as its field implementation agency.

Meaning and Full Form

NORKA stands for Non-Resident Keralites’ Affairs.It functions as a state-level nodal department responsible for policy formulation, coordination, and implementation of welfare measures for Keralites residing outside the state—both Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs) living in other parts of India.

Objectives of NORKA

The department’s primary objectives include:

• To address the grievances and welfare needs of Non-Resident Keralites.
• To facilitate rehabilitation and reintegration of return migrants into Kerala’s economy.
• To strengthen Kerala’s global diaspora network and encourage their contribution to the state’s development.
• To protect migrant workers’ rights and ensure legal and welfare assistance abroad.
• To promote pre-departure orientation and skill enhancement for prospective emigrants.
• To act as a liaison between the Government of Kerala and the diaspora for policy matters, cultural exchange, and investment promotion.

Organisational Structure

NORKA functions as a department directly under the Chief Minister of Kerala, with administrative support from the Principal Secretary (NORKA).

Key Components:

1. NORKA Department:The policy-making and coordinating arm responsible for developing strategies, issuing guidelines, and supervising all activities related to NRKs.
2. NORKA-ROOTS (Public Sector Undertaking):Established in 2002, it serves as the executive arm of NORKA, implementing welfare programmes, running service centres, and managing field-level operations. It also acts as a facilitation agency for overseas employment and skill development.

Major Functions and Activities

NORKA performs a wide range of functions aimed at protecting and supporting Non-Resident Keralites:

1. Grievance Redressal and Assistance

• Handles complaints related to employment disputes, passport issues, and repatriation.
• Offers legal and welfare assistance to distressed migrants through embassies and support networks.
• Provides emergency evacuation and repatriation support during crises such as wars, pandemics, or natural disasters (e.g., the Gulf War evacuation and COVID-19 repatriation).

2. Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Returnees

• Provides financial aid, counselling, and entrepreneurship support to returning migrants.
• Implements schemes for self-employment and skill-based reintegration.
• Offers loans through tie-ups with banks for setting up small and medium enterprises.

3. Insurance and Welfare Schemes

NORKA facilitates several welfare and insurance programmes for NRKs:

• Santhwana Scheme: Provides financial assistance to returnees facing medical or financial distress.
• Karunyam Scheme: Offers relief to the families of NRKs who die abroad.
• Pravasi Welfare Fund: In coordination with the Kerala Pravasi Welfare Board, supports pension and insurance benefits.
• NRK Insurance Scheme: Provides accident and health insurance coverage to migrants.

4. Skill Development and Pre-Departure Training

• Operates NORKA Centres for Skill Development and Training (NCSDTs) to prepare job seekers for overseas employment.
• Conducts pre-departure orientation programmes to familiarise workers with destination-country laws, culture, and work ethics.
• Partners with international certification agencies to ensure global recognition of skills.

5. Employment and Recruitment Services

• NORKA Job Portal connects employers abroad with skilled candidates from Kerala.
• Assists in attestation of documents required for foreign employment.
• Ensures ethical recruitment practices to curb exploitation by unauthorised agents.

6. Diaspora Engagement and Investment Promotion

• Encourages NRKs to invest in Kerala’s infrastructure, tourism, and start-up sectors.
• Organises the Loka Kerala Sabha, a global assembly of Keralites, to foster diaspora participation in policy and development.
• Facilitates public–private partnerships and NRI entrepreneurship ventures in the state.

7. Emergency and Crisis Management

NORKA has played a pivotal role in major crises affecting Keralite expatriates:

• Coordinated large-scale repatriation during the COVID-19 pandemic under the Vande Bharat Mission.
• Assisted in relief and rehabilitation during Gulf region conflicts and natural disasters.
• Provides real-time helpline support through NORKA Helpline (Toll-Free: 1800 425 3939).

Key Schemes and Initiatives

Achievements and Impact

Since its inception, NORKA has made significant contributions to the welfare and empowerment of Kerala’s diaspora:

• Efficient grievance redressal: Thousands of petitions resolved annually through online and embassy-level coordination.
• Rehabilitation success: Numerous returnees have established self-employment ventures through NORKA’s financial and training support.
• Skill development: Thousands trained for overseas employment in healthcare, hospitality, and technical trades.
• Diaspora networking: The Loka Kerala Sabha has become a model for diaspora engagement among Indian states.
• Crisis management excellence: Active role in repatriating stranded migrants during global emergencies.

Significance

NORKA stands as a model of state-level diaspora governance in India, representing a progressive approach to managing migration and its socio-economic impact. Its activities highlight:

• Humanitarian concern for migrant welfare and protection.
• Economic reintegration of returnees into Kerala’s development process.
• Global partnership through diaspora engagement in investment and knowledge sharing.
• Institutional innovation in creating a sustainable link between migration and state development.

Challenges

Despite its success, NORKA faces several ongoing challenges:

• Ensuring protection and welfare of unskilled workers in the Gulf who are more vulnerable to exploitation.
• Addressing illegal recruitment and unregistered agents.
• Sustaining employment opportunities for return migrants amid limited local job creation.
• Enhancing data management and policy research on migration trends.
• Coordinating effectively with multiple agencies—state, central, and foreign.