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March 2024
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Kerala CM
Shri. PINARAYI VIJAYAN
Hon'ble Chief Minister

 

Spreading diaspora

No matter where they may be living, most Non-resident Keralites (NRKs) would like to stay connected with the land of their birth in some or the other way. The remittance received by Keralalites from emigrants to the Gulf popularly known as “Gulf Money” is the most dynamic contribution to the economy of the State. The desire among the NRKs to stay connected with Kerala make them very ‘high contributors’ to Kerala economy.

Kerala, the southern state of India, with distinctive features has a diaspora spread across the world ranging from those members stationed in the economic superpowers to those in the countries that have just fledgling economies. No matter where they may be living, most Non-resident Keralites (NRKs) would like to stay connected with the land of their birth in some or the other way.

Migration has been the single-most dynamic factor in the development scenario of Kerala in the last three decades. While Kerala has entered into outset of the new of the millennium with a little cheer in many people's homes, a major contributing factor for that has been migration. Migration has contributed more to poverty alleviation in Kerala than any other factor. Nearly 4 million Keralites now live outside India. With the mass-migration of residents to areas with bigger job markets, a curious social stratification has emerged in Kerala. Their families afforded numerous amenities, many of which were not attainable for other citizens. NRK households had distinctly better houses than non-NRK households.

The prosperity and economic growth of the state have a significant relation with the remittance from NRKs. The total remittances by the emigrants were found to be 4 times the State Domestic Product (SDP). The remittance received by Keralalites from emigrants to the Gulf popularly known as “Gulf Money” is the most energetic contribution to the economy of the State. The desire among the NRKs to stay connected with Kerala make them very ‘high contributors’ to Kerala economy.

After three decades of continuous increase, migration from the state seems to be losing some of its steam and edging towards a more stable stage. In the early period of construction worker’s emigration, much of the financial dividends from emigration were used up for household consumption - subsistence, education of children, house renovation and house construction, and dowry and debt repayments. Households in Kerala had undergone considerable transition during this period. Migration, especially migration to the Gulf countries, would have played a crucial role.

At the State level, there are altogether Nearly 4 million migrant Keralites now living outside the State and they contribute large inflow of foreign remittance to the state. More than a million migrants had accumulated savings, acquired expertise and external contacts with individuals and establishments that matter very much in business. Whether it is financial savings, real estate and investments, consumption of goods NRK or their relatives back home form a significant part of Kerala society. In fact the uniquely acclaimed Kerala model of development inevitably depends on Non Resident Keralites. Not much was left for investments in development-oriented activities. Moreover, there was a misconception regarding business climate in the state not as investment-friendly as it is in the other states.

The return emigrants of earlier days did not possess the required educational background or the know-how for starting new business ventures. That stage seems to be live down now. The stage is now set for more productive utilization of the acquired wealth for developmental activities. Even though we are compelled to promote migration so as to attract inward remittances, this phenomenon has caused adverse social implications. We are obliged to analyse these implications in the light of utilizing NRK remittance for the purpose of ushering in development in the State. But then safety and security of investment become the crucial questions for the NRKs.

In the wake of the globalization process, there has been an increasing trend in both internal and international migration. The growth of cross-border flows of various kinds, including investment, trade, cultural products, ideas and people, and the proliferation of transnational networks are the most striking features of this era. We may look forward with some degree of confidence to an era in which emigrants and return emigrants take leading roles in the developmental activities of Kerala.