Diasporic paths to development: An Indian perspective

Abstract

Amidst the constant emphasis on identifying the variables for development, increasing importance is now being attached to highly skilled migration, resulting formations of diasporas, and their role in negotiations at a national and international level. Diasporas are of special interest, and they have become a vital concern at a global level, in part because of their potential developmental impact in the home countries. This is specifically pertinent for the Indian diaspora, which comprises 25 million people spread over 130 countries, making it the third largest in the world after the British and the Chinese. This chapter looks at the different programmes and policies that the Indian government has implemented to convert overseas Indians into partners of national development. In seeking to explore the extent to which these efforts have been successful or not, we examine the diverse ways that skilled Indians in Europe contribute to the development process of India. We discuss the views and suggestions of both the Indian diaspora and returnees as to what needs to be done to provide an enabling setting for diaspora engagement. The conclusions indicate that the Indian government needs to be more sensitive to diaspora needs and to build a trustful relationship with the diaspora. Furthermore, there is a need for an environment in India that is conducive to diaspora engagement if the contributions are to materialise substantially.