ROLE OF NORKA IN STRENGTHENING KERALA ECONOMY THROUGH NRK REMITTANCES AND INVESTMENTS

Background: In Kerala, a separate department called the Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) Department is established to ensure the welfare of NRKs. NORKA functions to protect the interests of NRKs through various schemes and programmes. Kerala can become a growth- focused, developed economy through NRKs' remittances if and only if they are effectively utilised.Objective: To analyse how NORKA's initiatives and policies for both migrants and return migrants strengthen the Kerala economy through NRK remittances and investments.Methods: The present systematic review has integrated primary studies and secondary studies of various designs, including qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods research designs. A total of 543 articles were retrieved through online search of databases such as Google scholar, EBSCO, Scopus and ProQuest. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were used and selected 7 studies for review. Results: NORKA focuses on Kerala's industrial development and, hence, has taken initiatives for channelizing NRK remittances into industrial development projects in Kerala. Such initiatives encourage NRKs to utilise their entrepreneurial skills to start business in Kerala. Supporting return migrants, rehabilitating them and reintegrating them into the economy through various initiatives form the basic functions of NORKA. By fulfilling these functions, NORKA is actually enabling the Kerala economy to growth with NRK investments.Conclusion: NORKA aims to increase NRKs' participation in the industrial development of Kerala. Entrepreneurship development initiatives by NORKA for migrants and return migrants direct NRK remittances and investments toward the economic growth of Kerala.