Kudumbashree is to implement Pravasi Bhadratha Programme- PEARL (Pravasi Entrepreneurship Augmentation and Reformation of Livelihoods), joining hands with NORKA Roots. Shri. Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister, Government of Kerala inaugurated the Pravasi Bhadratha Programmes at Symphony Hall, Mascot Hotel, Thiruvananthapuram on 26 August 2021. The MoU regarding the same was exchanged by Smt. P.I Sreevidya, Executive Director, Kudumbashree and Shri. K. Harikrishnan Namboothiri, Chief Executive Officer, NORKA Roots.
Shri. P. Rajeev, Minister for Law, Industries and Coir, Government of Kerala presided over the function. Shri. M.V Govindan Master, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Rural Development and Excise, Government of Kerala attended the programme online and delivered the keynote address. Dr. K. Ellangovan IAS, Principal Secretary, Industries & Norka,Government of Kerala welcomed the gathering.
Pravasi Bhadratha Programme is a financial security programme being launched for the welfare of the emigrants who had returned to Kerala losing their livelihoods. PEARL is the emigrant survival programme being implemented by Kudumbashree as part of the 'Pravasi Bhadratha' Nano Programme implemented by the Norka Department. The interest free loan for starting new enterprises through Kudumbashree is provided to the jobless emigrants from the amount allocated by the Norka Roots for the welfare of the emigrants.
Interest Free loan and other support would be provided via Kudumbashree for starting enterprises through this programme. Financial support would be provided to the members of the newly formed women auxiliary groups as part of Kudumbashree, if they or their family members are jobless emigrants, to form enterprises through this programme. The objectives of the programme include minimizing the insecurity of the jobless emigrants, providing Interest Free loan to the emigrants who had returned to the homelands after losing their livelihood, for income generating opportunities, providing skill training for starting enterprises and ensuring financial independence by securing steady income for jobless emigrants.
Pravaasi Bhadratha Programme-Mega would be implemented associating with KSIDC Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC).The MoU regarding the same was exchanged by Shri. Rajamanikyam IAS, Managing Director, KSIDC and Shri. K. Harikrishnan Namboothiri, Chief Executive Officer, NORKA Roots. Pravasi Bhadratha Programme-Micro would also be implemented. Shri. K Varadarajan, Resident Vice Chairman, NORKA-Roots gave away felicitations and Shri. K Harikrishnan Namboothiri, Chief Executive Officer, NORKA Roots delivered the vote of thanks.