To aid safe migration, Kerala to take pre-departure orientation to campuses

Amid reports of foreign countries forcibly deporting Indian nationals, including for irregular migration, NoRKA-Roots — the State government agency working for the welfare of non-resident Keralites — is planning to elevate its pre-departure orientation programmes in Kerala. The agency is devising strategies to conduct these programmes at the campus level, targeting students, and at the local-body level for prospective emigrants from the general public.

Kerala, known for its high literacy rate and long history of migration, is now focussing on students and the wider community through local bodies following a rise in complaints of cheating. The agency registers around 8,000 complaints every year, nearly 30% of which relate to fraud and visa violations. The revamped pre-departure orientation aims to sensitise people to safe migration practices, visa norms in destination countries, contractual obligations, and high-risk recruitment channels.

Speaking to The Hindu, Ajith Kolassery, Chief Executive Officer of NoRKA-Roots, said educating prospective migrants is the most effective way to reduce irregular migration and related complaints. Fraudulent racketeers, he noted, are increasingly using various platforms, including social media, to lure victims for commercial gain. Although the agency has been conducting pre-departure orientations since 2006, he said there is now a need for exclusive, sector-specific modules in addition to programmes for the general public.

Beyond raising awareness on migration-related issues, the agency also plans to provide training on financial literacy and management, along with guidance on identifying fake recruiters and licensed agencies. Promoting informed migration, he added, will help address many of the problems faced by those who reach overseas destinations through irregular channels.

Officials said guidelines for preparing modules tailored to campuses and local bodies will be developed soon, following consultations with various stakeholders. The agency recently conducted a general pre-departure orientation programme for a selected group of prospective migrants in Thiruvananthapuram.