Norka Roots
NORKA Roots is a Government of Kerala department, established in 2016, delivering diaspora welfare services—ID cards, insurance, attestation, overseas recruitment, and rehabilitation schemes—to Non-Resident Keralites worldwide via offices, a 24/7 call center, mobile app, and web portal.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersThiruvananthapuram, India
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Norka Roots does
NORKA Roots is a department of the Government of Kerala, India, established in 2016 to serve as the state's nodal agency for the welfare of Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs) worldwide. It delivers a consolidated suite of services including the Pravasi ID card and Pravasi Raksha insurance policy, certificate attestation for education and employment abroad, international recruitment matching (notably the Triple Win nursing programme with Germany and a UK placement partnership with Walsons), skills training, and rehabilitation/return-emigrant schemes (Santhwana, Karunyam, NDPREM, NORKA Subhayathra, and the tiered Pravasi Bhadratha PEARL/MEGA/MICRO schemes). Distribution is multi-channel: a Thiruvananthapuram headquarters, an Ernakulam regional office (inaugurated August 2019), a 24/7 toll-free call center (1800 425 3939) with international dial-in reaching 33 countries, a mobile app on Google Play, and a web portal at norkaroots.org. Underlying technology is a web-based service portal with mobile front-end delivering ID registration, attestation requests, job matching, and scheme applications—standard government e-services rather than a custom platform.
The business model is non-commercial: NORKA Roots is funded through Kerala Government budget allocations and provides services free of charge, with no disclosed pricing, fees, or commercial revenue stream. Strategic partnerships extend delivery capacity—the German Federal Employment Agency and GIZ for nurse recruitment, JAIC for Japan, SBI and Kerala Bank for entrepreneurship loan melas, Women Development Corporation Kerala for collateral-free NORKA Mithra women loans, and Air India and Kuwait Airways for concessional repatriation and travel. Dedicated operating cells include NIFL (international friendship), the NRK Women's Cell, PLAC (legal assistance), and NBFC (business facilitation). The platform has registered 413,000+ NRKs and supports community governance via the Loka Kerala Sabha online platform. Governance is led by the Chief Minister of Kerala as Chairman, with an IAS officer (Shri. Asif K Yusuf IAS) serving as CEO and a board that includes business-community representatives.
Norka Roots firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Norka Roots
- Legal name
- NORKA Roots, Department of Non-Resident Keralites Affairs, Government of Kerala
- Website
- https://norkaroots.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- NORKA Roots is a Government of Kerala department, established in 2016, delivering diaspora welfare services—ID cards, insurance, attestation, overseas recruitment, and rehabilitation schemes—to Non-Resident Keralites worldwide via offices, a 24/7 call center, mobile app, and web portal.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Norka Roots industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Government Diaspora Welfare Services
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment (BPAGABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Minority, Indigenous & Disability Rights (BPADAGAH)
Keywords
Where Norka Roots is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Thiruvananthapuram
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Norka Roots business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Government Funded Services: NORKA Roots is a department of the Government of Kerala. Services are provided free of cost to emigrants and returning Keralites. The organization is funded through government budget allocations rather than revenue generation.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Norka Roots product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NORKA Roots is a department of the Government of Kerala, India that provides welfare services to Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs) worldwide. It issues Pravasi ID cards and insurance policies, performs certificate attestation, runs overseas employment and nurse recruitment programs (including the Triple Win programme for Germany), delivers skills training, and operates rehabilitation and financial assistance schemes for returning emigrants such as Santhwana, Karunyam, and NDPREM.
Product overview
NORKA Roots is a Kerala government department portal serving Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs) worldwide. The platform offers a unified suite of services including identity management (Pravasi ID, NRK Insurance Card), employment programs (Skills & Training, Triple Win Programme), government welfare schemes (Santhwana, Karunyam, NDPREM), certificate attestation, and 24/7 support through a mobile app and call centre. The portfolio functions as an integrated diaspora engagement ecosystem connecting NRKs with government services, overseas employment opportunities, financial assistance, and community platforms like Loka Kerala Sabha.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pravasi ID Card / Pravasi Raksha Insurance Policy / Student ID
- NRK Insurance Card (within India)
- Skills and Training Skill upgradation training program for young aspirants seeking careers abroad, providing job-related training to enhance employability.
- Certificate Attestation Attestation service for educational documents for those seeking careers or higher education abroad, ensuring documents are authenticated by NORKA Roots.
- Santhwana Scheme Distress relief scheme providing time-bound financial support to NRKs who have returned to Kerala, covering medical treatments, death assistance, marriage assistance, and purchase of physical aids for disability.
- Karunyam Scheme Financial assistance for legal heirs to repatriate mortal remains of expatriates, supporting road, rail, or air transportation and offered as reimbursement to dependents.
- NDPREM Rehabilitation Package Attractive rehabilitation package promoting entrepreneurship for returnees with subsidy for entrepreneurships having seed capital up to Rs 30 lakhs, available for MSMEs and agro-industries.
- NORKA Roots Mobile App Mobile application providing NORKA Roots services on fingertips, available for download on Google Play Store.
- Triple Win Programme International nursing recruitment program placing nurses in German hospitals, part of a bilateral agreement between Kerala and Germany.
- NORKA CARE Support Service Support service for NRKs providing assistance and care services.
- 24/7 Call Centre Round-the-clock call centre service addressing queries from NRKs, available throughout the year with multiple contact channels including phone, email, and live chat.
- NORKA Subhayathra Scheme Scheme providing financial assistance or benefits to returning emigrants for various employment sectors.
- NORKA Roots Directors Scholarship Scholarship program for children of NRKs to support higher education.
- Dr. Ravi Pillai Excellence Scholarship Excellence scholarship program for meritorious students.
- NIFL (NORKA International Friendship League) International friendship league providing support and networking for NRKs worldwide.
- NRK Women's Cell Special support cell for women NRKs.
- Loka Kerala Sabha Online platform for diaspora participation in Kerala's governance.
Companies that use Norka Roots
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Norka Roots technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Norka Roots partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- German Federal Employment Agency (BA)corePartnership for Triplewin nurse recruitment programme - facilitating recruitment of nurses from Kerala to Germany. Includes MoU signing for standard recruitment procedures and language training support (B1/B2 German language courses).
- German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ)corePartner in Triplewin programme for nurse recruitment to Germany, supporting language training and cultural preparation for selected candidates.
- WalsonsminorUK recruitment partner for nurse placement - agreement signed for facilitating nurse recruitment to United Kingdom through Walsons.
- State Bank of India (SBI)minorJointly organizes pravasi loan melas for returning emigrants seeking entrepreneurship loans under government schemes.
- Kerala BankminorPartner for pravasi loan melas providing subsidized loans for returning emigrant entrepreneurs.
- Women Development Corporation KeralaminorJoint initiative for NORKA Mithra women loans - providing collateral-free loans up to Rs 10 lakhs for women returning emigrants.
- Air IndiaminorMoU for free transportation of mortal remains of deceased emigrants to Kerala - repatriation assistance scheme.
- Kuwait AirwaysminorTravel fare concession agreement for Keralite emigrants traveling to Kuwait.
- JAIC (Japan International Cooperation Center)minorJapanese recruitment partner for facilitating employment opportunities for Keralite workers in Japan.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Norka Roots competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- ManpowerGroup: Global private-sector staffing and recruitment firm with extensive international placement operations. Comparable as an overseas employment intermediary, but as a commercial, multi-country incumbent rather than a government welfare department.
- Protector General of Emigrants (Ministry of External Affairs, India): The national-level regulator overseeing emigration of Indian workers, with whom NORKA Roots coordinates on overseas recruitment. Comparable in mission scope at the central government level.
- eMigrate (Protector of Emigrants, Ministry of External Affairs, India): Central government regulator governing emigration clearance for Indian workers, including the eMigrate portal and pre-departure requirements. Operates the same diaspora/recruitment policy stack at a national level, of which NORKA Roots is a state-level complement.
- Ministry of External Affairs, India — Diaspora Engagement Division: Central ministry arm running broader Pravasi Bharatiya initiatives including Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and the Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra. Represents the national-level diaspora engagement overlay to which NORKA Roots reports and contributes.
Emerging players
- ABC Consultants: One of India's largest private recruitment and staffing firms handling international placements. Adjacent competitor in the overseas employment space for Indian workers, particularly from Kerala and South India.
Direct peers
- Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF): Indian government fund managed by embassies and consulates to assist distressed Indian nationals abroad through legal, medical, and emergency support. Overlaps with NORKA Roots' Karunyam and Santhwana distress-relief functions from the destination side.
- Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE): Statutory body under Sri Lanka's Ministry of Foreign Employment regulating overseas recruitment and providing welfare services to Sri Lankan migrant workers. Comparable in regulatory-plus-welfare dual mandate.
- Foreign Employment Board, Nepal: Nepal's government body managing foreign employment permits, welfare funds, and reintegration support for Nepali migrant workers. Comparable migrant-source-country diaspora welfare agency.
- Overseas Development and Employment Promotion Consultants (ODEPC): Another Government of Kerala undertaking focused on overseas recruitment and employment placement for Kerala workers. Most directly comparable as a state-government peer operating the same recruitment mission for the same beneficiary base.
- Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA): Philippines' government agency attached to the Department of Migrant Workers, providing welfare, insurance, and reintegration services to Filipino overseas workers. The closest international functional equivalent to NORKA Roots in mandate and operating model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Norka Roots social profiles
Digital presenceNorka Roots financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Norka Roots leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Norka Roots subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Norka Roots funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Norka Roots M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Norka Roots
What does Norka Roots do?
NORKA Roots is a department of the Government of Kerala, India that provides welfare services to Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs) worldwide. It issues Pravasi ID cards and insurance policies, performs certificate attestation, runs overseas employment and nurse recruitment programs (including the Triple Win programme for Germany), delivers skills training, and operates rehabilitation and financial assistance schemes for returning emigrants such as Santhwana, Karunyam, and NDPREM.
Is Norka Roots a public or private company?
Norka Roots is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Norka Roots founded?
Norka Roots was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Norka Roots based?
Norka Roots is headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram, India, in the Asia region.
How does Norka Roots make money?
One revenue line is on record: government Funded Services.
Who are Norka Roots's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are ManpowerGroup, Protector General of Emigrants (Ministry of External Affairs, India), eMigrate (Protector of Emigrants, Ministry of External Affairs, India) and Ministry of External Affairs, India — Diaspora Engagement Division. ABC Consultants is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF), Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), Foreign Employment Board, Nepal, Overseas Development and Employment Promotion Consultants (ODEPC) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
Does Norka Roots have an API?
No public API is recorded for Norka Roots.
What industry is Norka Roots in?
Norka Roots's product category is Government Diaspora Welfare Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGABAA, Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment, with a secondary code of BPADAGAH, Minority, Indigenous & Disability Rights. Its SIC code is 8300.