The Global Debate- Role of Indian Diaspora in India’s progress in Amrit Kaal | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Introduction

• The Indian diaspora globally consists of 31.2 million people, with 17 million being PIOs and 13 million NRIs, and is dispersed across 146 countries. The diasporic population of Indians in countries like the US, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Myanmar, the UK, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and Canada is at least one million each.
• As per the Global Migration Report 2020, India continues to be the leading country of origin of international migrants, with a diaspora of 17.5 million people around the world. Additionally, India received the highest remittance of $78.6 billion from Indians living abroad, which is equivalent to 3.4% of the country's GDP.

The Indian diaspora presents numerous opportunities for India, such as:

• Acting as a vital "bridge" for access to knowledge, expertise, resources, and markets to facilitate the country's development with the rest of the world.
• Serving as a crucial aspect of India's "soft diplomacy" or "diaspora diplomacy." For instance, Indian diaspora played a pivotal role in the successful Indo-US Nuclear deal.
• Contributing to the growth and development of the country where they reside, as demonstrated by the success of Indians in Silicon Valley.
• Playing a significant role in the fields of Science & Technology.
• Serving as a significant source of trade and investment in India through trans-national entrepreneurship.
• Generating a large inflow of remittances, which helps balance the current account and contributes to socio-economic development and poverty reduction. Currently, the Indian Diaspora is the largest earner of remittances in the world, according to the World Bank.
• Disseminating experiences and exposure and spreading Indian culture and traditions abroad, benefiting India as a whole. Examples of this include Yoga, Ayurveda, Indian Cuisine, etc.

Challenges posed by the diaspora

• The current low oil prices resulting from the Shale gas boom and slower global growth have led to job cuts for Indians.
• Despite efforts towards equality, discriminatory practices rooted in a racist and colonial mindset still exist, making it challenging to obtain jobs and work visas.
• It is important to note that the diaspora's support is not always consistent or guaranteed, and their priorities may differ from India's. For instance, the Indian community in the US did not speak out against Trump's proposal to limit the H-1B visa program, which has benefited many Indians.
• Most of the Indian diaspora wish to retain both their Indian citizenship and the citizenship of their country of residence.
• Remittances sent by the diaspora are not always utilized in beneficial ways, as evidenced by foreign funding for extremist movements like the Khalistan movement.
• Many Indian students prefer to pursue higher studies and work as scientists and economists abroad, which results in a loss of talent in research and development for India.
• According to reports, the e-Migrate system and the Minimum Referral Wages policy have been disadvantageous to India, as companies now find it easier to hire labor from countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Way Forward

• To ensure a welcoming experience for diaspora members arriving in India, it is necessary to simplify immigration and customs procedures and provide courteous service.
• Facilitate the entry of foreign funds into India.
• Address the issues faced by Indian blue-collar workers working abroad by negotiating standard labour export agreements with host countries, monitoring workers through missions, and providing compulsory insurance schemes.
• Inclusive diplomacy should be promoted.
• Focus on promoting tourism among 2nd generation PIOs who frequently visit their home state or relatives.
• Protect the welfare of Indian women married to NRIs/PIOs.
• Leveraging the expertise of diasporic professionals working in senior positions in the manufacturing industry to promote India as an important outsourcing destination.
• Establish special economic zones for projects to be initiated by NRIs/PIOs.
• The Indian government should consider issuing special infrastructure bonds to attract NRI/PIO investments, similar to Israel Bonds.
• India's challenge is to harness the financial and intellectual capital of its vast diaspora.

 Conclusion

The diasporic communities have gained importance in global politics, and the Indian diaspora has several advantageous characteristics such as being prosperous, growing in number, and considered a "model minority." Moreover, they are actively involved in electoral politics and multinational businesses, making them a highly visible group. Therefore, India has an opportunity to capitalize on their potential.