Health and Dignity for Kerala’s Global Workers: Introducing NORKA Care

The Onam season that just passed was a vivid reflection of the Left Democratic Front government's (LDF) unwavering commitment to every section of the working masses of Kerala. Amidst a time when the capitalist forces are pushing the nation into an inflationary spiral, the people of Kerala celebrated Onam with joy and dignity — not because of market forces, but because of strong governmental intervention that put people before profit.

Through timely distribution of welfare benefits like pensions and support schemes, the state ensured that even the most marginalised could celebrate with pride. This was not charity — it was justice. It was the government recognising the right of the people to live with dignity.

And as the festivities settle, the people's government moves forward with another revolutionary step — a health insurance scheme for the global Malayali working class. In the Fourth Loka Kerala Sabha, Chief Minister Comrade Pinarayi Vijayan made a declaration: comprehensive health insurance for our expatriate brethren, implemented through Non-Resident Keralites Affairs Department of the Government of Kerala (NORKA). For the first time in the history of this country, a state is implementing a universal health and accident insurance scheme specifically for its migrant workers — a bold move in defiance of the exploitative structures that abandon labourers once they leave the homeland.

The contributions of the expatriate Malayali — the worker — are the very foundation of our state’s economy. These comrades, scattered across the world, are Kerala’s real ambassadors. The billions they send home are not mere remittances — they are lifeblood infused into the veins of our society. Nearly 20% of all remittances to India come from Kerala’s working class abroad. In 2023 alone, they sent Rs. 2.16 lakh crore — a 155% increase from 2018. The average remittance per household grew from Rs. 96,000 to over Rs. 2.24 lakh. These numbers reflect not privilege, but sacrifice.

Yet, these workers face harsh conditions — especially the crushing burden of healthcare expenses in foreign lands where profit-driven systems deny them affordable treatment. Many are forced to return home to Kerala for medical care. Recognizing this injustice, the government has acted.

From November 1, 2025, the NORKA Care scheme will come into force — a people-centric, rights-based health and accident insurance program. This is not just a scheme; it is an expression of class solidarity.

The scheme — Comprehensive Health and Group Personal Accident Insurance Scheme for Non-Resident Keralites — offers up to Rs. 5 lakh in healthcare support and Rs. 10 lakh in accident compensation. For individuals, the annual premium is Rs. 8,101. For families (spouse and two children), it is Rs. 13,411. Compared to the corporate insurance market, these rates are minimal — made possible only through the intervention of a pro-people state.

Over 17,000 hospitals across India, including 470 in Kerala, will offer cashless treatment under the scheme. Pre-existing illnesses are not excluded. Every expatriate Malayali with a NORKA Pravasi ID or Student ID — and even those living in other Indian states — can join this program. No worker will be left behind.

This initiative is a shining example of what a people’s government looks like — one that sees governance not as management, but as service; not as control, but as solidarity.

The NORKA Care scheme is not just about insurance. It is a declaration of the government’s ideological commitment to the working class — to those who build wealth but rarely enjoy its fruits. This is the Kerala model — not of capital accumulation, but of human dignity.