INDIAN DIASPORA – INTERNATIONAL
News: Outreach
to diaspora and statesmanship
What's in the news?
● Among
the Indian diaspora, Tamils constitute a substantial number.
● They
form the overwhelming majority of the Indian population in Malaysia, Singapore,
and Sri Lanka, are in good numbers in Myanmar, Mauritius, South Africa, the
Seychelles, the Re-Union Islands, Fiji, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname,
Australia, New Zealand, the Gulf countries, the United States and Canada,
Britain and the European countries.
Key takeaways:
● Jawaharlal Nehru,
in Malaya in March 1946 - "When India becomes free, her hands will be long
and powerful to protect each and every one of her children abroad."
● "Indians
abroad must remain united and guard their rights and uphold their heads proudly
as Indians-children of a country with a great
past and greater future."
Diaspora:
● Diasporas are symbols of
a nation’s pride and represent their country internationally.
The diaspora’s ability to spread Indian soft power, lobby for India’s national
interests, and contribute economically to India’s rise is now well-recognized.
Significance of Indian diaspora:
1. Soft diplomacy:
● The
Indian diaspora is an important part of India’s “soft diplomacy”, which
sometimes proves to be more effective in creating new paths for the country of
origin.
● For
example, the Indian diaspora played a critical role in the fructification of
the Indo-US Nuclear deal.
2. Remittance:
● One
of the greatest economic contributions of the Indian diaspora has been in terms
of remittances.
● Remittances
make an invaluable contribution by aiding
in socio-economic development, poverty reduction and changes in consumption
behavior in rural areas.
● According
to the World Bank Migration and Development Brief, released in 2022, for the
first time a single country, India, is on track to receive more than USD 100 billion in yearly remittances.
3. Spread of indigenous culture and traditions:
● Cultural
spread helps in export of domestic cuisines and merchandise which open the room
for investment in the host countries to feed
the local tastes of people for those cuisines.
4. National representations across the globe:
● Diasporas
are symbols of a nation’s pride and represent their country internationally.
● They
help in building a country's value
internationally through their huge success stories.
5. Help in technology transfer:
● Diasporas
are mostly based in foreign countries which are developed and hence are
technologically advanced and rich in innovations.
● They
help in bringing these technologies and innovations to their country of origin
through investment and collaborations.
6. As a Pressure group:
● The
influential Indian diaspora affects not just the popular attitude, but also government policies in countries where
they live, to the benefit of India.
● India
benefits tremendously through these people in luring large multinational
companies as well as entrepreneurial ventures.
7. Agents of change:
● Enhancing
and facilitating investment,
hastening industrial growth, and
enhancing both international trade and
tourism.
8. Freedom struggle:
● Mahatma Gandhi’s
struggle to end the systemic prejudice against Indians in South Africa inspired
legends about the diaspora that have endured in contemporary India.
● As
the fight for independence gained traction at home, it started to have an
impact on many Indian communities abroad.
Major issues of Indian diaspora:
1. Racial antagonism:
● Rising
incidence of hate speech and crimes against Indians by the locals due to
racism, communalism emboldened by coming of nationalist and ultra-nationalist
governments to power in many countries.
2. Threat to their security:
● The
security of foreign workers in the Middle East is now under new threat as a
result of recent violent incidents
in the region. For instance, the IS group recently abducted Indian workers.
3. Threat to their employment (Nitaqat Law):
● It
aims to replace a significant portion of foreign workers in Saudi Arabia with
locals. This has an impact on international workers from Kerala, Tennessee,
etc.
4. Political Polarization:
● Many
Indians abroad are turning against India since the change of government and
some extreme right-wing factionists.
5. Dual Citizenship:
● Majority
of the Indian diaspora want to retain their Indian citizenship along with the
citizenship of the country of their residence.
6. Consular and other issues:
● The
commonest grievance of the Diaspora is the ill treatment, harassment and the
demands for illegal gratification it encounters at the hands of our customs and
immigration officials at the points of entry.
Government initiatives for the Indian diaspora:
1. Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas:
● The
“Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas” is an initiative started by the Government in 2003 to
mark the contribution of the Indian
community overseas in the development of India.
2. Education:
● NRI
seats are reserved in all the medical, engineering and other professional
colleges.
3. Know India Program (KIP):
● It
is a flagship initiative for Diaspora engagement which familiarizes Indian-origin youth (18-30 years) with
their Indian roots and contemporary India has been refashioned.
4. Grievance redressal mechanism:
● The
authorities have been ensuring 100 percent grievance redressal through E-Migration Portal, Madad Portal, and
CPGRAMS.
5. Minimum Referral Wages (MRW):
● A
number of policies were announced keeping in mind the protection of welfare and
interest of Indians abroad; for example, the 2014 Minimum Referral Wages (MRW).
6. Easing the passport facility:
● The
last three years saw the launch of Head Post Offices as passport centers
enabling thousands more to apply for a passport.
● There
is a dedicated Diaspora Welfare Officer.
WAY FORWARD:
1. Friendly attitude:
● A
friendlier reception at their point of entry is necessary to ensure that
Diaspora members feel welcome upon arrival in India and also fondly recall
their visits.
● Additionally,
simpler procedures for immigration and
customs clearances that are marked by courteous service are crucial.
2. Address the issues of blue-collar workers:
The
following should be put into action as soon as possible to address the issues
facing our blue-collar workers abroad. These include:
● Establishing
a welfare fund for repatriated
overseas workers in distress.
● Negotiating
Standard Labour Export Agreements with the host countries.
● Monitoring
and supervision of both the employment contracts and the conditions of our
overseas workers by our Missions.
● Launching
compulsory insurance schemes
covering the risks faced by our overseas workers.
3. Parliamentary standing committee:
● The
establishment of a parliamentary standing committee on the Indian diaspora is a
possibility.
● Members
who are interested in issues affecting the Diaspora should be included.
● This
Committee might also serve as a hub for communication with lawmakers from other
nations who are of Indian descent.
4. Use for economic development:
● The
Diaspora can significantly aid India’s tourism
industry.
● PIOs
frequently travel back to their home country or to see family.
● Promoting
tourism should receive more attention among PIOs of the second generation.
5. More opportunities for investment:
● There
is the need to further liberalize the economy for the overseas Indian
community.