Daijiworld Media Network - Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 15: In a landmark move, the Kerala government is set to launch ‘Norka Care’, a comprehensive health and accident insurance scheme exclusively for Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs). The initiative is the first of its kind in India and aims to provide vital support to millions of Keralites living abroad.
The scheme will be officially inaugurated on September 22 in Thiruvananthapuram by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, with Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal presiding over the function. At the same event, the Norka Care mobile app will be unveiled to facilitate seamless access and registration.
According to P. Sriramakrishnan, Vice Chairman of NORKA, the state agency for NRK affairs, this long-awaited project delivers on a key demand voiced frequently by expatriates at forums like the Loka Kerala Sabha.
Key Features of Norka Care:
• Rs 5 lakh health insurance and ?10 lakh accident insurance coverage
• No age limit and no mandatory medical tests
• Cashless treatment in over 16,000 hospitals across India, including 500+ in Kerala
• Plans underway to extend the scheme to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries
• Open to all NORKA ID card holders, including returning expatriates, with uninterrupted policy continuation
Enrollment will be available through a global registration drive from September 22 to October 22, with benefits starting November 1, coinciding with Kerala Piravi Day.
Norka Roots CEO Ajith Kolassery confirmed that the scheme is open to all NRKs regardless of age or health status, making it widely inclusive and accessible.
Kerala, home to more than 2.5 million NRKs—with the majority based in the Middle East—receives over Rs 1 lakh crore in annual remittances, accounting for nearly 15% of the state’s GDP. The launch of Norka Care underscores the Kerala government's ongoing commitment to supporting its diaspora, which continues to be the economic backbone of the state.
This scheme is expected to not only ease the financial burden of healthcare for thousands of families but also reinforce Kerala’s position as a pioneer in diaspora welfare initiatives.