Kasargod, May 4: A house-to-house survey of Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs) is under way in Kerala to create a thorough data bank for formulating policies for welfare of thousands of Malayalis working abroad, mostly in the Gulf countries.
According to Department of Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NoRKA), this is for the first time that such a comprehensive head count of NRKs is being taken up in the state.
The exercise, which began on May 1 along with the sixth economic census of the Central Statistical Organisation, will cover the entire household in the length and breadth of the state to enumerate the exact number of people working abroad and also the expatriates.
The survey is being conducted by the Bureau of Economic and Statistical Department, which have fanned its enumerators in all parts of the state to complete it by mid-June.
"The purpose of the survey is to create a thorough data base of NRKs and expatriates to help the government formulate policies for their welfare and rehabilitation," a NORKA official told PTI.
"Till date, we don't have a reliable data base of the NRKs though estimates vary from 2.2 million to 3 million and 1.1 million returnees. Since these estimates are reached by migration studies based on random sampling, chances of getting at the exact numbers could be remote. We hope that a clear picture would emerge out of the current survey," the official said.
The survey would also gather details regarding economic, educational and social profile of the NRKs. But specific questions regarding inward remittances by each NRK had been avoided as it would amount to infringing on their privacy and such questions might deter the households from coming out with correct information, the official said.
Besides the details of those employed in the Gulf region, the survey would collect information regarding Keralites working in all parts of the world including Europe, America, Africa and South East Asia.
According to Department of Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NoRKA), this is for the first time that such a comprehensive head count of NRKs is being taken up in the state.
The exercise, which began on May 1 along with the sixth economic census of the Central Statistical Organisation, will cover the entire household in the length and breadth of the state to enumerate the exact number of people working abroad and also the expatriates.
The survey is being conducted by the Bureau of Economic and Statistical Department, which have fanned its enumerators in all parts of the state to complete it by mid-June.
"The purpose of the survey is to create a thorough data base of NRKs and expatriates to help the government formulate policies for their welfare and rehabilitation," a NORKA official told PTI.
"Till date, we don't have a reliable data base of the NRKs though estimates vary from 2.2 million to 3 million and 1.1 million returnees. Since these estimates are reached by migration studies based on random sampling, chances of getting at the exact numbers could be remote. We hope that a clear picture would emerge out of the current survey," the official said.
The survey would also gather details regarding economic, educational and social profile of the NRKs. But specific questions regarding inward remittances by each NRK had been avoided as it would amount to infringing on their privacy and such questions might deter the households from coming out with correct information, the official said.
Besides the details of those employed in the Gulf region, the survey would collect information regarding Keralites working in all parts of the world including Europe, America, Africa and South East Asia.
Comments
Add new comment