The Central Government had informed in the Monsoon Session of Parliament that in three years, about four lakh people have given up their citizenship of India. The reasons for this were said to be personal. The people of India have a long history of settling in other countries. Be it as bonded labor in remote islands before independence or in the form of better education and job opportunities after independence. The reason behind the recent increase in the number of people giving up citizenship is the acceptance of backlog applications by governments due to Kovid 19, changes in immigration policies of other countries, and the absence of dual citizenship in India.
Needless to say, there has also been a significant increase in the number of Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) cardholders. Eminent political scientist Devesh Kapoor's book Diaspora, Development and Democracy: The Domestic Impact of International Migration from India (2010) helps a lot in understanding the economic and political impact of migration on India. Its contribution to the economic sphere has been mixed while the political impact has been largely positive.
Talking about the economic impact of foreign migration, the migration of unskilled workers to West Asia The effect was positive. Not only for those who went abroad but also for those who stayed here. According to World Bank estimates, NRIs remitted $87 billion to the country in 2021. Indians were at the forefront of sending money from abroad. In contrast, the economic effects of foreign immigration of highly-skilled intellectuals who went to Western countries can be understood in more than one sense.
On the positive side, the success of these Indians has improved the image of India and Indians in the world. On the downside, the departure of educated people means that their excellence could not be used for India due to brain drain. Looking at the political impact, there are two positive sides. The first party The returning Indians and their international identity have led to liberal democratic politics.
helped strengthen the commitment. However, twelve years after the publication of the book, these claims seem weak. Needless to say, there has always been flexibility in the relationship between the diaspora and the motherland. In the second wave of Kovid-19, the help that these people, individually and as a community, put pressure on their governments to help, is commendable.
The other side is that foreign migration acted as a 'pressure relief valve' for the upper-caste-dominated class. Lastly, high levels of foreign outflows are characteristic of developing economies. Research suggests that foreign outbound continues until the economy reaches a certain height and faster growth in the economy will mean more opportunities for Indians of all income groups.
Now the big question is, can we do more about the Indians settling abroad? On the one hand, there are those who have settled in foreign countries, and on the other hand, those who are about to go or want to go. For those who have settled abroad, it is difficult for them to return to India except on a foreign passport. A possible solution would be serious consideration of dual citizenship, easier investment in NRIs/PIOs, and good relations with those who have not yet taken foreign citizenship, creating social harmony, providing adequate economic opportunities, and improving their quality of life. Is required.
Our focus should be on the second category of people. Medical students who are not able to enter the country due to various lapses and restrictions, and people with high net worth troubled by bad business, tax, and policy environments are also included in these. Unless we address these fundamental challenges, films like Swades may bring tears to our eyes, but not much will change on the ground.
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