Hyderabad:Over 18 million strong Indian diaspora retains the distinction of being the largest community abroad which comprises of Non-resident Indians (NRI) and those termed as Overseas Citizens of India (OCI). Their contributions in their host countries are widely acknowledged and over the years due to their diligence, discipline and dedication they have emerged as the preferred workforce abroad ranging from the whitest to the bluest collared jobs largely spanning across North America to the Middle East.
According to estimates, we have the largest concentration in UAE, USA and Saudi Arabia with 3.4 mn, 2.6 mn and 2.4 mn respectively. President Trump, during his recent visit to India, recalled the great contribution of the 4 mn strong influential Indian origin Americans to the USA. In the Gulf, they are the most preferred and trusted professionals and workforce among all expatriates.
In its ‘An India Economic Strategy to 2035,” the Australian government calls the Australian Indian Diaspora 'a national economic asset' and should be engaged and deployed as such. It adds “harnessing the entrepreneurial spirit of this rapidly growing community, particularly its willingness to innovate and take risks and its knowledge of the Indian market will enhance the future productivity of the Australian Business sector."
For India, their growing economic and political salience has provided an influential voice in their host countries. Today, they are heading top MNCs bringing glory to the country of their origin and are often instrumental in bringing technology and investments to India. India’s IT story and financial sector investments owe them a great deal. Moreover, their annual remittances of over $60 bn add a stronger resilience to the Indian economy by way of foreign exchange reserves.
However, there is a much more sordid story of exploitation and extraction of the blue-collar workers, especially in the Gulf countries. This is largely due to ignorance of rules and rights, unscrupulous recruitment agents, and occasionally due to unsympathetic employers. Often the dictum that 'beggars can’t be choosers' applies to them. More so when many of the dream struck youth become desperate to go to the western countries in search of jobs and their dreams crash when they land up as "illegal immigrants" and their nightmare begins.
In the Gulf countries, the Work Permits/Ikamas could often have restrictive exit clauses and one-sided contracts. Their passports are often kept by the employers (Kafeels) in violation of the Indian government passport rules. Middlemen and agents often hide information and present a rosy picture to the hapless job seeker. The individual must seek guidance with state government resource centres and keep copies of all travel and contract documents at home as well. It is also necessary to take proper orientation from the concerned agencies in India and try and learn a few words and sentences in Arabic.
To protect this category of Indians going abroad for employment, their passports are endorsed with a stamp of “Emigration Clearance Required” which is given after due checks by the protectorate General of Emigrants currently located in the Ministry of External Affairs.
In collaboration with the Bureau of Immigration, a dynamic database is maintained through “e-Migrate’ system which also registers the foreign employers to make them accountable.
Indian embassies maintain an 'Indian Community Welfare Fund' to help and assist the stranded Indians and to provide them interim relief and immediate relief apart from taking up their case with concerned employers and local government agencies. There have been cases where Indian housemaids and nurses and other female staff have been ill-treated and several of the missions have opened shelters to house them and provide protection.