GRFDT

Migration, Diaspora and Development: An Indian Perspective

The twenty first century immigrants’ experiences are quite different from the previous immigrant

generation. The International Migration Report (2017) states that 3.4 percent of the world’s

inhabitant population today are international migrants. It is constituted 258 million population is

living in a country other than their country of birth (UN- DESA). In the southern hemisphere of

globe, along with other continents, Asia has also emerged as one of the important regions that has

been contributing large number of international migrants in the world. This geographical region

alone, contributes approximately 61 million population in the world migration. According to latest

report of the UN-DESA, India has largest Diaspora (17 Million) population in the world who are

residing outside their country of origin. And, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA),

Government of India, there are approximately 31.2 million Indian diaspora spread across the

world.

“The rise in the number of international migrants reflects the increasing importance of

international migration, which has become an integral part of our economies and societies," said

Wu Hongbo, UN Undersecretary General for Economic and Social Affairs. Historically and even

if one looks at the current scenario, it is quite evident that migration has always been an integral

component of human existence and an avenue to livelihood for millions of people. The significance

of migration and diaspora has been understood by the international communities as an inevitable

and essential factor in the development process. Migration is a process through which an individual

decides ‘to move’ or ‘not to move’ depending upon an interplay of forces and drivers within the

context of social, political, economic, demographic, cultural and geographical factors.

Contribution of migrants and Diaspora helps in such a policy formulation which help in realising

the full potential of migration in achieving the agenda of sustainable development. As Hongbo

said “Well-managed migration brings important benefits to countries of origin and destination, as

well as to migrants and their families”.

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