Indian Diaspora

The term diaspora is used to refer to any people or ethnic population forced or induced to leave their traditional ethnic homelands; being dispersed throughout other parts of the world, and the ensuing developments in their dispersal and culture.

Building transnational networks

The Diasporas provide important links and contact points between home and host societies by building transnational networks which transact not only emotional and familial bonds, but also cultural, social and economic interests. Such Diaspora associations in host countries impact and influence local businesses, even political decisions, thereby ensure a friendlier environment and outcomes for the existing and prospective migrants.

Remittances

Diaspora associations help to channelize remittances, capital and investments to benefit not only home communities, but also by developing partnerships with host country counterparts, benefiting both. The same can be said of the exchange of skills, cuisines, ideas, knowledge and technology.

Development-migration paradigm With the second-largest overseas population, India has the status as the country that receives amongst the highest remittances, its experience in effectively addressing the problems of poverty, inequality  and unemployment in an unfailingly democratic manner, India can provide the much needed impetus to meaningfully reinforce the symbiotic development-migration paradigm.

Sources of investment, expertise, knowledge and technology

These ‘Global Indians’ can serve as bridges by providing access to markets, sources of investment, expertise, knowledge and technology; they can shape, by their informed participation, the discourse on migration and development, and help articulate the need for policy coherence in the countries of destination and origin. To capitalize on such a vast base of Indian Diaspora requires not only the home country to establish conditions and institutions for a sustainable, symbiotic and mutually rewarding engagement with the Diaspora-which are central to govt. programmes and activities; but for the Diaspora to project themselves as intrinsically motivated and progressive communities as well

By: Jagwinder Pal Singh