NORKA
In order to ensure the welfare of the Non Resident Keralites, redress their grievances and safeguard their rights that NORKA, the Non Resident Keralites Affairs Department was set up by the Government of Kerala in 1996. Since then, NORKA has been playing a vital role in the lives of NRKs, supporting them in times of need and lending them a helping hand in every possible means.

Norka-Roots
Norka-Roots is the field agency of the Department of NORKA, set up in 2002. It acts as an interface between the Non-Resident Keralites and the Government of Kerala and a forum for addressing the NRKs’ problems, safeguarding their rights and rehabilitating the returnees.

Chairman: Shri. V.S.Achuthanandan

Chief Executive Officer: Dr. V.K. Baby IAS

Vice Chairmen:
Shri. M.A.Yusuffali
Shri.V.K.C.Mammadkoya Ex MLA

Director Board Members
Smt. Sheela Thomas IAS
Shri. M.A.Yusuffali
Adv. C.K. Menon
Shri. Alexander Vadakkedom
Dr. M Anirudhan
Shri.V.K.C.Mammadkoya Ex MLA
Shri. A.K.Moosa Master
Shri. Manjalamkuzhi Ali MLA
Shri. K.T.Jaleel MLA
Shri. K.K.Sankaran

General Manager: Shri.S.M.Najeeb

MAJOR OBJECTIVES
· Welfare of NRK's
· Heritage village for parents of NRK's
· Promotion of Malayalam language and culture
· Cultural exchange programme between the natives and Malayalees settled abroad.
· Promotion of regional development with the active participation of NRK's
· Social Security Network for NRK's
· A relief fund for rendering immediate assistance to NRK's in need.
· Organization of annual meets for NRK's
· Resettlement and reintegration of NRKs returning to Kerala.
· Employment mapping
· To facilitate the creation of a high calibre human resource pool.
· Upgrading of skills of jobseekers
· Data Bank of NRK's
· Channelising investments to the State
· Prevention of illegal recruitment

PRESENT ACTIVITIES

Santhwana
For extending financial help to BPL NRKs in exceptional cases of extreme financial needs to meet funeral expenses, marriage expenses, medical expenses etc.

Certificate Authentication Centres
For attesting the educational certificates of job seekers going abroad. HRD, MEA and Embassy attestations are obtaining from a single office. At present there are three attestation Centres in Kerala at Trivandrum, Ernakulam and Calicut.

NRK Identity Card- project
Govt of Kerala has entrusted NORKA-ROOTS to issue photo identity card to Non Resident Indians of Kerala origin, who are staying/working abroad for the last six months.

The NRK ID Card project pertains to the issuance of Photo Identity Card to the Non Resident Keralites across the globe. This project is the first such type ever undertaken by the State Government. This ID Card serves as base material for long-term policy formulation on matters pertaining to NRKs. The NRK ID card will work not only as the Identity proof to the NRKs who can use the card as Insurance Card and Discount Card as rider benefits and add on services.

The project was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala Sri. V.S.Achuthanandan on 27th July 2008 in Malappuram District. In the first phase, NORKA-ROOTS has constituted Collection Camps in the district in the month of August and collected application forms blockwise from the NRKs / their relatives directly. Since the NRKs are either residing or working abroad, their family members could submit the application forms. NRKs can submit the application, properly certified by the people’s representatives or either by the concerned Embassy with the relevent pages of the passport with visa to these collection Camps. The registration fee for the card is Rs. 200/- each. KELTRON, a Government of Kerala Institution which has the background of the production of voters photo Identity card is assigned for the production of NRK ID card. They are entrusted to provide the card with the database of the NRKs to NORKA-ROOTS after the production of such ID cards.

Now the NRK ID card Cells are constituted in the Head Office and Regional Offices of NORKA-ROOTS at Ernakulam & Kozhikkode for submitting the application forms for availing the card and add on facility to the NRKs as a whole. The NRK who are either residing or working abroad atleast 6 months and have completed 18 years of age are eligible for applying the card. The validity of the card is of 3 years.

The New India Assurance Company Ltd will give insurance coverage to the NRK ID Card holders. The coverage is given under the condition of accidental death, permenant and total or partial Disability of the cardholder.

This ID card covers the facility of discount to certain commodities in selected shops and establishments. The name of commodity, name of shops and percentage of discount will be published in the website. The shops and establishments include Jewellery, shopping malls, fabric centres, medical shops and hospitals,Tourist centers and amusement parks.

Data Bank of NRKs
A sector?wise Data Bank of NRKs is under preparation.

Promotion of Malayalam language and culture
To encourage the usage of Malayalam among the third generation Malayalees, NORKA has set up a website www.entemalayalam.org for online teaching.

Cultural Exchange Programme between the Natives and Malayalees Settled Abroad
To describe more about the native land of Kerala among the third generation NRKs.

Promotion of Regional Development with the Active Participation of NRKs
To ensure that the NRKs contribute their mite for the development of their villages, NORKA has launched a scheme called My Village, My Dream.

Assistance for repatriation of Dead bodies from other countries to homeland

Organisation of Annual Meets for NRKs
NORKA is organising meeting for NRKs (Samavayam), Marunadan Malayalee Meet (Samanwayam) and returnee meet (Samagamam) annually. This has become a common forum to discuss various issues of NRKs and to find solutions.

Recognition of Malayalee Associations
Norka-Roots started recognition of Malayalee Associations functioning in overseas and in other states in India having more than three years of existence. 84 number of associations already recognised.

NORKA CENTRE
The Department of Non-Resident Keralites’ Affairs would soon have a single office building named NORKA CENTRE to co-ordinate the activities of the Department of NORKA, its field agency Norka-Roots, and the attestation centre. The eight storeyed building would be set up in 20-cent land near the Government guest house at Thycaud in Thiruvananthapuram


Pre-Departure Orientation Programme
Norka-Roots has launched its first Pre-Departure Orientation Programme through the State level inauguration on 15th December, 2006 at Durbar Hall Thiruvananthapuram by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala. 60 participants attended the first batch of the training programme. This programme is intended to make our overseas job aspirants aware about general job situations abroad and to impart essential information relating to visa, emigration rules, employment contract, travel formalities etc. Conducting one day workshop for overseas job seekers at various districts in Kerala.

Manpower Recruitment
Norka-Roots obtained recruitment license in the year 2006 from Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs to recruit manpower from India to overseas countries. We do the entire recruitment exercise of sourcing candidates for the overseas employers as per their stipulations and line up candidates for their selection process. We also arrange for medical checkup, visa stamping and ticketing formalities.

Pravasi Welfare Fund
Kerala Government has now enacted a legislation called NRK Welfare Act 2008. The Act ensures the welfare of non-resident Keralites by providing for the constitution of a Welfare Fund on the basis of a Non-Resident Keralites’ Welfare Scheme to grant relief, pension, and other benefits to them. The age limits is 18yrs to 55 yrs. More details are available in www.pravasiwelfarefund.org

contact us:
NORKA-ROOTS
(Head Office)
Top Floor, Centre Plaza,
Vazhuthacaud, Thiruvananthapuram – 695014
URL: www.norka.gov.in
Phone: 0471 2332416, 2332452
Fax: 0471 2326263
e_mail: mail@norkaroots.net
 

NORKA-ROOTS Regional Office
(Certificate Attestation Centre)
Lotus Villa
Sasthamangalam
Trivandrum
Phone: 0471 2317950, 2317951
e_mail: cactvm@norkaroots.net

NORKA-ROOTS Regional Office (Calicut)
(Certificate Attestation Centre)
2nd Floor, Zamorin Square
Link Road,Kozhikkode
Phone: 0495 2304882, 2304885
Fax: 0495 2304883
e_mail: cacclt@norkaroots.net

NORKA-ROOTS Regional Office
(Certificate Attestation Centre)
V.M. Complex
Building No. 41/1313 B
C.P. Ummer Road
Ernakulam - 35
Phone: 0484 2371830, 2371810
e_mail: cacekm@norkaroots.net

NORKA-ROOTS Regional Office
(NRK Development Office)
Travancore House
K.G Marg
New Delhi – 110001
Phone: 011 – 23383275, 23384369
Fax: 011 23389141
e_mail: norkadelhi@norkaroots.net

NORKA-ROOTS Regional Office
(NRK Development Office)
2nd Floor, Vazhi Plaza
Sector 17 Vashi
Near Vashi Ralway Station
Navi, Mumbai
Phone: 022 27880088
e_mail: norkamumbai@norkaroots.net