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Kerala’s migrant community is passing through another period of uncertainty. The continuing war and geopolitical instability in the Gulf have placed thousands of Malayali workers and their families under considerable economic and psychological pressure. The disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the loss of employment, declining opportunities for re-emigration and the growing difficulties of rehabilitation have already disturbed the lives of many migrants. It is against this background that the Kerala government’s decision to substantially increase premiums under the NORKA Care health insurance scheme has come as another shock.

For a community that has sustained Kerala’s economy through decades of hard work and sacrifice, the decision raises disturbing questions about the state’s commitment to migrant welfare.

The controversy, related to an increase in insurance premiums, also concerns the larger relationship between the Kerala state and its migrant population, particularly those belonging to the working classes. Migrants are routinely celebrated for their remittances, investments and contributions to Kerala’s development. However, their everyday struggles, uncertainties and vulnerabilities seldom receive the same attention. The prevailing tendency to see migration primarily through the volume of remittances obscures the unstable conditions under which a substantial section of Malayali migrants live and work.

The common image of the ‘prosperous Gulf Malayali’ has never adequately represented the migrant community as a whole.

Behind Kerala’s impressive remittance figures are construction workers, drivers, cleaners, domestic workers, shop assistants, security personnel, technicians and thousands of other low-paid employees. Many spend the most productive years of their lives abroad, separated from their families and working under difficult conditions. Their savings are often exhausted in meeting household expenses, educating children, constructing modest houses, repaying loans and supporting elderly parents. A considerable number return home without adequate savings, pension benefits or reliable healthcare protection.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the weaknesses of this migration-dependent livelihood system. Thousands returned after losing employment or experiencing salary reductions. Many were unable to find suitable jobs in Kerala, while others struggled to finance another journey abroad. The renewed instability in West Asia has aggravated these uncertainties. Workers facing the possibility of displacement, unemployment or forced return are now being asked to bear substantially higher healthcare costs. The timing of the government’s decision could hardly have been more insensitive.

Insurance, financial viability and the welfare question

Introduced in 2025, NORKA Care was presented as an important initiative to provide health insurance protection to non-resident Keralites and return migrants. Approximately 1.32 lakh people enrolled in the scheme, indicating considerable expectations among migrants and their families. Its attraction lay partly in the inclusion of people with pre-existing medical conditions, who frequently encounter difficulties in obtaining affordable private health insurance.

The revised premium structure, effective from November 1, 2026, has fundamentally altered the affordability of the scheme.

The annual premium for a Rs 5 lakh family floater policy, previously Rs 13,411, has reportedly increased to Rs 21,960 under the........

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