Indian Diaspora

Why in the News?

Recently, a Parliamentary Panel criticized the government over the absence of a “Clear-Cut” Policy on engaging with the Indian Diaspora.

Key Points:

About Indian Diaspora

• Indian Diaspora is a generic term used for addressing people who have migrated from the territories that are currently within the borders of the Republic of India. 
• It constitutes NRIs (Non-resident Indians) and PIOs (Persons of Indian origins). 
• The 2015 International Migration Report estimated that 16 million Indians lived abroad, making it the second largest diaspora in the world.

India’s Policy towards Diaspora:

• Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, pursued a policy of “active dissociation” from the Indian diaspora. 
  • He was concerned that connecting with, and advocating for, them would impair the sovereignty of host countries.
• Under the regime of Rajiv Gandhi, there was a boost in diaspora policy.
• However, the policy of reaching out to the Indian diaspora began in earnest during the tenure of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
  • It was under NDA-I that Pravasi Bharatiya Divas(PBD) was first launched in 2003.
• The Modi government has brought the merger of PIO (Persons of Indian Origin) and OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India), which has been a long-standing demand of the Indian community. 

Major Issues pertaining to Indian Diaspora:

• Citizenship: The majority of Indian diaspora want to retain their Indian citizenship along with the citizenship of the country of their residence.
• Consular-related 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. 

Significance of Indian Diaspora:

•  Indians contribute 13% of global remittances and the remittance sent by Indians back to India amount to approximately 3.2% of the Indian GDP.
• Members of the Diaspora are a major asset to intelligence agencies inimical to India. 
• Diaspora philanthropy has played an important role in education, healthcare and rural development.
• They are the most important tool for India’s soft power diplomacy.
• The importance of Diasporas extends to knowledge transfer, the sharing of resources, acting as unofficial Indian ambassadors and pushing for India’s interests abroad.
• The dominance of Indians in computer software, particularly in Silicon Valley, has strengthened the image of India as a technology powerhouse.
• With a focus on ‘Make in India’, the Indian diaspora can be facilitated to contribute to the Indian development story by investing in the greenfield and brownfield projects, 

Suggestions to Boost Connect with Indian Diaspora:

• The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) should deepen linkages with the Diaspora.
• The scope and activities of the Cultural Centres in countries with a substantial Indian presence should be expanded.
• Initiatives for establishing sister city relationships by NRIs or PIOs should be supported
• The Birthright Israel programme which assists the younger generation of the Jewish Diaspora to visit Israel and learn about their cultural roots should be emulated.

Conclusion:

• Indian Diaspora has an impact on India’s foreign policy. They are an important factor in the bilateral relationship with the countries where they have a significant presence. 
• Overseas Indians also benefit immensely from the standing of India in the international arena.
• Prestige and strength of India has a direct impact on the position of Diaspora in the countries of their settlement. 
• In a nutshell, the destinies of India and its Diaspora are intertwined. It is in the interest of both India and her Diaspora to develop a mutually beneficial relationship.