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

Vice Chairman: Smt. Sheela Thomas IAS

Director Board Members
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

Chief Executive Officer: Dr. K.M.Ramanandan IAS

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
Pravsi Apakad Sahaya Kudumba Arogya Padhathi
An Insurance coverage scheme with UIIC for the victims of accidents in abroad.

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.

Skill upgradation Centres
Up gradation of skills of job seekers, the first of its kind in India, was initiated by NORKA in association with SCMS Group of Educational Institutions, Kochi. This Institute known as NORKA?SCMS Institute for Paramedical and Development Studies (NSIPADS) imparts training for nurses to appear for CGFNS/N?CLEX examinations and for unskilled worker's such as housemaids, driver's etc. Planning to start more skill upgradation centres to provide both Soft Skills and Technical Skills.

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.

Pravasi Sahitya & Pravasi Journalist Awards
To encourage the artistic talents of NRKs, NORKA introduced “Pravasi Sahithya Award” annually for an eminent Malayalee writer living in foreign country for his published works.
Similarly Pravasi Journalist Award is introduced for encouraging the young NRK journalists.

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. Also planning to start similar orientation programmes at various districts of Kerala.

Manpower Recruitment
Norka-Roots has already obtained overseas recruitment license from the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and is planning to locate the overseas job opportunities in various countries through E_mapping. We will also be creating a data bank of human resources in various trades available for overseas placements soon.

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

NORKA-ROOTS Regional Office
(Certificate Attestation Centre)
Lotus Villa
Sasthamangalam
Trivandrum
Phone: 0471 2317950, 2317951

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

NORKA-ROOTS Regional Office
(Certificate Attestation Centre)
V.M. Complex
Building No. 41/1313 B
C.P. Ummer Road
Ernakulam - 35
Phone: 0484 6583832, 6583834

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

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