Dear Friends,
It is with great happiness and pride that I address you.
The recent session of the Loka Kerala Sabha was held in Thiruvananthapuram on January 29, 30, and 31. In his inaugural address, the Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, mentioned the activities we are carrying out in Canada as well as the NORKA–LKS Coordination Council.
Moreover, for the first time, Canada received representation in the Standing Committee formed to implement the recommendations that emerged from the Loka Kerala Sabha. This is indeed a matter of great pride for all of us. It is also encouraging to know that efforts are underway to replicate the model we implemented in Canada in other countries as well.
The strong support given by each one of you and by your respective organizations has been our greatest motivation in achieving this. Representatives from Canada actively participated in discussions on various subjects during the Sabha.
Several important matters were raised during these discussions, including:
Providing insurance and a NORKA ID for OCI card holders.
Increasing the coverage limit of the existing NORKA Care insurance scheme
Issues related to immigration, education, healthcare, tourism, and other sectors.
The Government has already taken a decision to increase the coverage limit of the NORKA Roots Care Insurance scheme. The existing coverage of ₹5 lakh has now been expanded to options of ₹10, ₹15, ₹25, ₹50, and ₹100 lakh. However, at present, only those holding an Indian passport are eligible to enroll in this scheme.
If at least one member of a family holds an Indian passport, insurance coverage can be extended to the other family members through that person. The insurance can be obtained through the NORKA Care Plus app. We expect that OCI card holders will also be able to access this insurance facility in the near future.
We will continue our efforts to ensure action on the other matters we have raised.
Another significant development is that a dedicated NORKA Police Station is being established specifically to address the issues faced by expatriates. The State Government has already approved this initiative. Once it becomes operational, we will be able to submit our complaints and concerns directly through this system.
We still have a long way to go. Many members of the expatriate community in Canada are unaware of the various initiatives and schemes implemented by the State Government and NORKA for the welfare of Non-Resident Keralites. As leaders of our organizations, it is our responsibility to ensure that this information reaches them so they too can benefit from these programs.
There are still many organizations that are yet to join this group. I request your support in bringing them into this platform. Please speak with the organizations and office bearers you know and encourage them to become part of this collective effort.
At present, only a few organizations are registered with NORKA. Other organizations should also try to complete this registration. There are no special fees, charges, or major difficulties involved in the registration process. In fact, such registration can be beneficial for expatriate organizations in many emergency situations.
I kindly request all organization leaders to pay attention to this matter.
In the near future, we can organize an online meeting including the Secretaries of the NORKA and LKS departments, as well as the CEO of NORKA, to explain the activities of NORKA and the Loka Kerala Sabha in detail.
Your opinions and feedback will greatly help guide our future course.
We look forward to your continued support and cooperation.
With warm regards,
Sooraj Athippatta