NORKA Santhwana disbursed ₹139.49 crore over five years

The NORKA Santhwana scheme disbursed ₹139.49 crore to 22,267 beneficiaries over the five financial years from 2021–22 to 2025–26, according to figures reported for the scheme. The aid is for financially disadvantaged Keralites who return after working abroad. The amount was released from the ₹154 crore allocated in the budgets for those five years.

Assistance includes up to ₹1 lakh for death-related support, ₹50,000 for medical treatment, ₹15,000 for a daughter’s marriage and ₹10,000 for mobility aids. Applicants must have annual family income below ₹1.5 lakh and at least two years of overseas employment on a work visa. For 2026–27, the government has given administrative approval for ₹35 crore. As of October 31, 2026, payments totalling ₹5.71 crore for 1,056 approved beneficiaries were pending.

Notable Points

• Kerala’s NORKA institutions: Kerala formed the Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) department on 6 December 1996. It was the first such department formed by an Indian state. Its field agency, NORKA Roots, was set up in 2002 to interface with non-resident Keralites and assist returnees.