Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan is passe, north Kerala's poll slogan is Jai Pravasi

Kozhikode: Non Resident Keralites (NRK) who returned after stints abroad may not have a pivotal impact in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in the state, but their numbers are rising, especially in the northern Malabar region.

Of the NRK population of more than three million, the Gulf countries – especially the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait – account for a lion's share.

Interestingly, if there are 31 lakh Keralites living abroad as per statistics, there are nearly 25 lakh migrants in Kerala, though they are from other parts of the country itself.

Studies show that the money remittance from abroad accounts for 36 per cent of the Net State Domestic Product (NSDP).

All these should paint a rosy picture of the impact of NRKs, but the other side of the tale is that successive governments have ignored the potential of tapping NRKs more effectively.

It was the 1987 LDF government which first formed a department to deal with issues of expatriates. But even elementary issues have not been dealt with.

“A comprehensive data base on the NRIs should be developed, by including their job specifications, income and specialisations which they would like to take up once they return,” Badusha Kadalundi, director of Pravasi Welfare Board, said.

Essentially this means the state does not have vital data on expats nearly five decades after the Gulf boom, or mass migration to Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC).

That shows the double standards of our political masters, who do not hesitate to consider NRK a milch cow, but turn away from their issues once they return.

The fund allocation for the Department of Non Resident Keralites Affairs, or Norka, is meagre. Norka Roots was established in 1996 to ensure NRK welfare and to serve as a single kiosk for all information pertaining to them. It coordinates Pravasi Identity cards, certification, overseas recruitment of Keralites etc.

“The existing details at the Norka Roots is insufficient. The updated data base should also include the details of expats in other countries. Migration to Gulf countries is temporary, compared to the other countries,” Badusha said.

The number of Gulf returnees was around 40,000 in 1986, it rose to 7.4 lakh in 1996. In 2000, it again increased to 11.6 lakh.

Kerala's north districts, including Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kasaragod and Kannur, have the maximum number of Gulf expats and hence the number of returnees are also more in these districts, he said.

Plight of the Gulf-returnees

Most Gulf returnees Onmanorama spoke to are dissatisfied with the approach of the ministries as well as the Norka Roots. Three to four lakh people have returned from Saudi alone, after the introduction of Nitaqat in July, 2013.

Nitaqat aims to promote Saudi nationalisation by preferring locals above expatriates for jobs.

Of the 35 lakh Indians in Saudi Arabia, an estimated 15 lakh are from Kerala.

During the tenure of late E Ahamed as Union minister of state for external affairs, efforts were made to somehow retain Indians in Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE, recollects his former staff Mohammed Shafeeq.

After the direct involvement of the former minister, only one third of the Indians, who faced the threat of expulsion, had to leave these countries, Shafeeq said.

There are three types of ban on the expatriates – Red, Yellow and Green, he said.

The expatriate who falls in the Red category has to immediately go back to his mother country, clear the paperworks, before returning to the Gulf again.

In the Yellow category, any official or legal issue could be rectified through the Indian embassy here and continue to stay.

In the Green category, the Gulf country itself rectifies paper mistakes.

Most of the Gulf returnees worked in construction, hotel and agriculture sectors.

There were also many mechanics, drivers and hairdressers, who find it difficult to get similar jobs here. Those who could set up small businesses like restaurants had better prospects back home.

Govt apathy

“Along with Jai Jawan, Jai Kisaan, we need a Jai Pravasi slogan also,” said Ghulam Kolakkadan, secretary of Pravasi Chamber of Commerce.

The migration to Gulf countries started way back in 1970s, especially from the Muslim community in Malabar.

This export of man power also increased the standard of living in Kerala as remittances started pouring in.

“Kerala has developed a lot compared with other states but we are not producing anything except manpower,” he pointed out.

“Our government's attitude to the NRIs is pathetic. These NRIs are living in insecurity today, they might turn jobless tomorrow,” he said.

“What would they do after that,” Ghulam wonders.

“Remittances account to Rs 1.5 lakh crore from NRIs yearly. The government should also do something for them, once they return jobless.”

Ghulam's statements would point to the gloom that engulfs the Karipur airport when the afternoon Air India Express flight from Riyadh arrives.

Most of the passengers are Gulf returnees, desperation and dejection writ large on their weary faces.

Promises galore

On December 23, 2016, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in Dubai media city that all who are returning due to Nitaqat would be provided with six months' salary. When the announcement was made during the first official visit of Pinarayi to the UAE, it drew flak for lack of vision.

At that time, even finance minister Thomas Isaac had gone on record saying the state's coffers were almost empty and the government was struggling to pay salaries. Pinarayi's statements were seen only as a moral boost to the expatriates in the Gulf then. There is no update on this promise.

Stable projects to settle the returnees here are needed not doles, gulf returnees say.

Loka Kerala Sabha

The state government spent crores of rupees for organising the Loka Kerala Sabha Sammelanam in Dubai.

Representatives of expat organisations feel instead of this, the government should have collected data regarding the Gulf expatriates and returnees and studied how to tackle their issues in consultation with them.

The Emigration Fund of non-resident Keralites, to the tune of Rs 33,000 crore, has been untouched.

The Emigration Fund was established by the Centre way back in the 70s by charging a fee from the emigrating Indians, who were not skilled and did not qualify the class 10 examination. Expat organisations alleged that there was no effort by the Centre to use this for the welfare of the NRIs.

The government does not have to contribute more. This amount should be used for the welfare of the NRIs, their rehabilitation.

“The criterion for rehabilitation loan by the Norka Roots should be revised completely. Skilled workers are coming back. There are people who are trained in modern agricultural processes in engineering, construction and mechanical sectors. If the government does not have funds to support them, at least provide them with facilities. Both Central and state governments should make a combined effort for their welfare. There should be mandatory health insurance schemes for the Pravasis,” says Ghulam.

Now those who have returned from abroad are eligible for Rs 20 lakh loan from banks, arranged through the state government.

However, the returnees say, many banks do not consider them because there is no personal connect between the NRIs and the bank officials.

These loans should be repaid within seven years, with 15 per cent subsidy. There is also a three per cent interest subsidy for those who are regular in repayment.

Instead of the government finding the bank, the Pravasis seek relaxation to select their lender so that the loan procedures would be smoother.

Decline in migration

According to a study prepared by S Irudaya Rajan and K C Zachariah from Centre for Development Studies (CDS), the state is now experiencing a decline in emigration.

The study 'Emigration and Remittances: New Evidences from the Kerala Migration Survey', was completed in January this year.

The Kerala Migration Survey (KMS) data shows that in 2018, there were 21,21,887 emigrants from Kerala across the world, which is 1.49 lakh lesser than the 2016 and 2.78 lakh lesser than the 2013 KMS data.

The rate of growth of emigration is continuously decreasing since 2008. However, there is also a positive growth in some years, particularly, in 2011 and 2013.

The study also shows that 24 out of 100 households in Kerala has an expat. Malappuram has the maximum proportion, whereas Ernakulam has the least.

The maximum number of NRKs are in the Gulf region - 89.2 per cent of the total expats.

The remaining 10 per cent are in other countries like the US, the UK and Australia.

The CDS study shows 14 out of 100 households in Kerala have an expat who has returned.

The maximum number of 32.1 out of 100 households are in Malappuram and minimum of 2.1 at Idukki.

According to the CDS study, the number of Gulf returnees to Kerala nearly touched 1.3 million by 2018 (1,292,325), an addition of 42,325 in the the last five years. The corresponding numbers in the previous five-year periods were 12.50 lakh by 2013, 11.57 lakh by 2008, 8.94 lakh in 2003 and 7.39 lakh in 1998.

So the number of additions in this category slipped from 2,63,185 in 2008-13 to 42,325 in 2013-2018.

Malappuram has maximum number of returnees (3,09,881), followed by Kollam (1,65,504) and Kozhikode (1,51,417).

One major reason professor Rajan cites for this decline in emigration is that the number of people seeking job prospects in the Gulf is waning.

The second reason is that the salaries in the Gulf countries are no more attractive for a common emigrant.

Those who earn Rs 20,000 in Kerala are not keen to look for a job in the Gulf.

So how have our political parties dealt with the issue?

BJP Rajya Sabha MP V Muraleedharan, who is also a member of the External Affairs Standing Committee, says that a Migration Bill is in its final stages.

Once a new government takes over, it will become a reality.

“The new migration law would be able to solve many issues related to the emigration as well as the return of Indians. For now, even the respective embassies do not have a clear data of people in that country, even of those who went through proper channel. We also do not have a clear picture of how many people would be returning each year, so as to calculate job openings or provide support for entrepreneurship,” he said.

Since the Gulf-returnees are not an organised lot, their opinions are also scattered according to the community.

They cannot be counted as a collective that can have an impact in a particular constituency during the elections.

KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran, who was also former Union minister of state for home, said during his tenure the government started Passport Seva Kendras in addition to the passport offices.

It also organised adalats for people trapped in the foreign countries after losing their passports and valuable documents.

Calls made to the office of minister K T Jaleel, who s in charge of Norka, went unanswered.

The Kerala Norka Roots has a project for the returnees since 2013-14.

It is called Norka Department Project for Return Emigrants, says Norka Roots CEO Harikrishnan Nambudiri.

Till date, only 62,000 people have registered in the project and 2,641 could benefit out of it through entrepreneurship.