PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS
1.Why in news?
The 17th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD), or the day for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) that is commemorated annually on January 9, was marked by the Central government with events in Indore, Madhya Pradesh
Over 3,500 diaspora members from nearly 70 different countries registered for the PBD Convention, according to its press release.
2.History of "Pravasi bharatiya divas"
- A High-Level Committee on Indian Diaspora, headed by jurist and Parliamentarian LM Singhvi, had recommended in January 2002 that the government must renew and strengthen linkages of overseas Indians to their place of origin, and with each other
- The committee recommended that a Pravasi Bharatiya Bhavan should be set up to emerge as the focal point for networking between India and its overseas Indian community; and as a suitable place which to commemorate the stories of the Indian Diaspora.
- January 9 was selected as it was the date when Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in 1915.
- Over the years, he has often been described as the first non-resident Indian of the most famous NRI by various politicians
- An award called The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award is given out as part of the programme
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“It is the highest honour conferred on a Non-Resident Indian, Person of Indian Origin; or an organisation or institution established and run by them.”
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3.Key takeaways
- In 2023, it was awarded by President Droupadi Murmu to 27 people based in countries such as Australia, Ethiopia, Israel, Japan and more
- The Chief Guest of the event and the President of Guyana, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, was also awarded
- Also on the list of awardees was Dr Darshan Singh Dhaliwal, a US-based NRI who was sent back from Delhi’s IGI Airport on the night of October 23-24, 2021, over his alleged involvement in organising a langar for protesting farmers at Delhi borders against the three farm laws
- A Commemorative Postal Stamp ‘Surakshit Jaayen, Prashikshit Jaayen’ was released to underline the importance of safe, legal, orderly and skilled migration
- A first-ever digital Exhibition for the event, on the theme “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav – Contribution of Diaspora in Indian Freedom Struggle” was held
4.About Indian Diaspora
- The term diaspora traces its roots to the Greek diaspeiro, which means dispersion
- The Indian diaspora has grown manifold since the first batch of Indians were taken to counties in the east pacific and the Caribbean islands under the ‘Girmitiya’ arrangement as indentured labourers
- The 19th and early 20th centuries saw thousands of Indians shipped to those countries to work on plantations in British colonies, which were reeling under a labour crisis due to the abolition of slavery in 1833-34
- As part of the second wave of migration, nearly 20 lakh Indians went to Singapore and Malaysia to work in farms
- The third and fourth wave saw professionals heading to western countries and workers going to the Gulf and west Asian countries in the wake of the oil boom.
5.Classifications of the Indian Diaspora
Overseas Indians are classified into three categories: Non-Resident Indians (NRI), Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs)
- PIO refers to a foreign citizen (except a national of Pakistan, Afghanistan Bangladesh, China, Iran, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Nepal) who at any time held an Indian passport, or who or either of their parents/ grandparents/great grandparents was born and permanently resided in India as defined in Government of India Act, 1935, or who is a spouse of a citizen of India or a PIO
- OCI card was given to a foreign national who was eligible to be a citizen of India on January 26, 1950, was a citizen of India on or at any time after January 26, 1950, or belonged to a territory that became part of India after August 15, 1947. Minor children of such individuals, except those who were a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh, were also eligible for OCI cards
- NRIs are Indians who are residents of foreign countries
The PIO category was abolished in 2015 and merged with the OCI category
However, existing PIO cards are valid till December 31, 2023, by which the holders of these cards have to obtain OCI cards.
6.Statistics
- According to an August 22, 2022 report of the Parliamentary committee on external affairs, as on December 31, 2021, there were 4.7 crore Indians living overseas
- The number includes NRIs, PIOs, OCIs, and students. Excluding students, the number stands at 3.22 crore, including 1.87 crore PIOs and 1.35 crore NRIs
- According to the World Migration Report, prepared by the International Organisation for Migration under the United Nations, India has the largest emigrant population in the world, making it the top origin country globally, followed by Mexico, Russian and China
- Numbers shared by the government in Parliament in 2022 show that the geographical spread of the Indian diaspora is vast.
| The countries with over 10 lakh overseas Indians include United States of America (44 lakh), United Kingdom (17.6 lakh), United Arab Emirates (34 lakh), Sri Lanka (16 lakh), South Africa (15.6 lakh), Saudi Arabia (26 lakh), Myanmar (20 lakh), Malaysia (29.8 lakh), Kuwait (10.2 lakh) and Canada (16.8 lakh) |
7.Remittances
Remittances, according to the World Bank, are a vital source of household income for low- and middle-income countries like India
The latest World Bank Migration and Development Brief, released in November 2022, said, “For the first time a single country, India, is on track to receive more than $100 billion in yearly remittances.”
he World Migration Report notes that India, China, Mexico, the Philippines and Egypt are (in descending order) among the top five remittance recipient countries, “although India and China were well above the rest”.
In 2020, the two neighbours received the largest amounts of international remittances in Asia, with a combined total of more than $140 billion
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For Prelims: Indian diaspora, Statistics, remittances
For Mains:
1. Indian diaspora making stellar contributions in leadership positions. Discuss.
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Source:indianexpress
