Leveraging the diaspora to India’s advantage

Niraj Srivastava

Niraj Srivastava
Former ambassador

The Global Migration Report 2020 was released recently by the UN-affiliated International Organisation for Migration (IOM). This was the tenth such report since the first, issued in 2000. Its findings are of particular interest to India, which is the country with the highest number of migrants in the world (17.5 million). Their total number is 272 million. According to the IOM report, roughly two-thirds of

the international migrants are labour, underlining the fact that migration is driven mostly by economic reasons.

It is useful to note some of the key features of the Indian migrant population — or diaspora — as it is commonly called. The high number of migrants also makes India the leading recipient of remittances in the world, at $78.6 billion, followed by China and Mexico. The top migration corridors for the Indians are the UAE (3.2 million), the US (2.7 million) and Saudi Arabia (2.3 million).

India is also the 13th largest recipient of migrants in the world, the highest number of them being from Bangladesh. The country’s common borders with some of the poorest countries in Asia account for a significant number of illegal immigrants. Nepal and Myanmar are among other major sources of migrants into India. The presence of a large number of migrants in India — many of them illegal — has economic, political and social implications. Consistent with global practices, India is trying to establish a National Register of Citizens (NRC) to bring clarity to the number of citizens of India.

Migrants from India to other countries are much more than just a source of remittances — they play an important role in India’s foreign policy. Sometime in the 1990s, India began efforts to harness the strength of its nationals abroad. Steps were taken to re-establish contacts with those who had permanently settled in other countries, especially in Europe and the US. Links were also revived with those who had been sent abroad by the British during the colonial era as indentured labour, to the British Colonies in East Africa, Caribbean, and South-East Asia. In some cases, their descendants had risen to high political offices, as in Mauritius, or become rich and influential businessmen — as in Uganda and Kenya.

The Indian government took steps to make it easier for the non-resident Indians, or NRIs, to travel to India by liberalising visa regulations for them. A new category of diaspora members called Overseas Citizens of India, or OCI, was granted enhanced facilities, including visa-free entry into the country. Annual conferences of expatriate Indians, the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, were organised, at which awards were conferred on those who had distinguished themselves in various areas, including the politics and business of their host countries. NRIs were also encouraged to invest in India and bring their professional expertise into the country in various sectors. What was seen as brain drain in the 1960s and 70s was sought to be turned into ‘brain gain by the Indian government.

In this context, it is necessary to note that the composition of the Indian community varies in different regions and countries, giving rise to different issues. Thus, while the Indian diaspora comprises highly educated professionals in the US and Europe, it consists of mainly blue-collar workers in countries in the Gulf, such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. At present, the number of Indian expatriates in this region is estimated to be around eight million. Their welfare and safety is a major concern of the Indian government. They keep the economies of the Gulf countries running, and send home more than $40 billion in remittances.

On the other hand, Indians in countries such as the US and the UK have become politically influential because of their position and wealth. India used their influence, among other things, to get the Indo-US Nuclear Agreement of 2008 approved by the US Congress. They constitute an important segment of the American voters, an advocacy group, and a bridge between the two countries. Interaction with them is a mandatory feature of the engagements of high-level visitors from India.

Indian migrants become vulnerable to violence when war breaks out or internal upheavals occur in the country of their residence. This happened, for instance, in 1990, when Iraq invaded Kuwait. There were around 1,75,000 Indians in Kuwait who had to travel to Jordan, as direct flights between India and Kuwait were not possible. From Jordan, Air India flew them to India over a period of two months. It set a record as the largest civilian airlift in history. Similar evacuations, though much smaller, were organised in Lebanon (2006), Libya (2011) and Yemen (2015).

Another major problem faced by those who wish to go abroad for employment is human trafficking. This is particularly acute in some states of India such as Punjab and Kerala. Organised gangs of traffickers exploit the ignorance of the

people by making false promises and extorting large sums of money. In many cases, the traffickers abandon them before they reach their promised destination. Some face tremendous hardships, including imprisonment and deportation.

Over the years, the Indian diaspora has acquired the reputation of being good, law-abiding citizens of the countries of their residence and work. Indian migrants are making positive contributions to society wherever they live and are being recognised for doing so. They have generated goodwill and influence for India in the countries of their residence. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are two good examples. Their approach to India, both political and economic, has changed significantly in the recent past. On its part, the Indian government has stood solidly behind its nationals, and made efforts to improve their working conditions.

It is clear from the above that migration plays an important role in India’s economy and foreign policy. India has a young population, from which other countries can attract talent to drive their own economies. Several countries are already doing so, by offering incentives for studies, employment and permanent settlement. The Indian government

should welcome this process while cracking down hard on human trafficking from the country.