Migration Matters #34
IOM's Report on Diasporas, Eritrean Asylum Seekers in Israel, Hotspot for Indian Tech Workers, the Refugee Opportunity Index, Brown Munde, Diaspora Diaries Series, and More!
Dear Reader,
We bring you the most exciting and insightful trends from the world of migration - the stories that matter, the events that made headlines and exciting resources you can check out. Don’t forget to check out our Good Finds section for some exciting recs!
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Must Read
IOM’s recent report on 'Diaspora and Transnational Identities’
This latest report from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) explores legal frameworks and policies related to diaspora engagement in select countries of origin and destination. It covers how governments define and acknowledge diasporas, the rights and opportunities they offer, and the inclusion of gender considerations. The report emphasises the significance of formalizing relationships with diaspora members through dual citizenship and political involvement. It also highlights the importance of recognizing migrants' transnational identities for collaboration and positive change.
In the context of India, the report notes its distinctive soft diplomacy approach towards diaspora connections. It highlights the diaspora's engagement in both vertical and horizontal relationships. While India lacks a specific diaspora engagement policy, it offers robust institutional support and initiatives, bolstered by the special status of OCI card holders in lieu of Dual Citizenship.
Diaspora Diaries 🛫 - Are you an Indian settled abroad, or hail from a family of Indian origin immigrants? If yes, our latest series is for you! Whether you're a Gujarati in the UK, part of the Indo-Caribbean community in Trinidad and Tobago, a Punjabi in Italy, or an Indian tech pro in the US, we want to celebrate your story. Tell us about your challenges, foreign successes, connections with your homeland, and experiences abroad. How? Just fill this form to share your migration story with us!
Article 14’s Investigation on Modern Slavery
According to Article 14's four-part investigation, modern-day slavery remains pervasive in India, with millions living as bonded laborers. Despite the abolition of bonded labor in 1976, the practice endures. Post-pandemic, Adivasi and Dalit families have continued to migrate to brick kilns, even as job opportunities there have dwindled. In the KBK region of Odisha, 500,000 villagers still migrate annually to work in brick kilns in other states.
India
Israel has emerged as a destination for undocumented workers from India, many hailing from Kerala. The rise of outbound tour packages to Israel's holy Christian sites has fueled this trend. For many Keralite Christians, these tours provide a unique opportunity to explore their religious heritage. However, a small fraction of tour participants choose to stay in Israel as undocumented refugees. These individuals typically find work as caregivers. The allure lies in the robust Israeli New Shekel currency, which translates into higher earnings for their services. It's a complex migration pattern driven by both religious pilgrimage and economic prospects.
Canada is emerging as a hotspot for tech workers from India. About 15,000 tech workers migrated from India between April 2022 and March 2023 boosted by Canada’s immigration-friendly policies. Mississauga and Montreal are the cities seeing higher immigration. The numbers were part of a report by the Technology Councils of North America that looked at the migration of tech workers and jobs since the pandemic.
The violence in Manipur has affected not just local communities, but also refugees from Myanmar, mostly Rohingyas seeking shelter in the State. Caught in the midst of the strife between Kuki and Meitei communities, they are being made political scapegoats for the unrest in the state. As a result, they live in constant fear of deportation or detention.
About 40% of nearly 16,000 long-term refugees in Karnataka, who had fled persecution in Bangladesh, are still struggling to obtain Indian citizenship despite being rehabilitated nearly five decades ago, according to a report in the Deccan Herald. The refugees who were rehabilitated in Karnataka’s Raichur district currently live in four camps. Most times they have Aadhar cards and ration cards, but their names are excluded from the voter list. The worst affected are women who travelled to the camps after marriage. Apart from citizenship, residents are also unable to avail of government benefits due to improper records for allocation of land.
Global
On September 2nd, clashes between Eritrean government critics and a pro-government gathering in Tel Aviv spotlighted the enduring struggles confronting Eritrean asylum seekers in Israel. The Eritrean refugee crisis is characterised by the mass displacement of Eritrean nationals fleeing political persecution, compulsory military conscription, and human rights violations in their home country. Many Eritrean refugees seek asylum in neighbouring nations and beyond, grappling with precarious journeys and challenging living conditions in search of safety and stability. As of June, Israel housed 17,850 asylum seekers from Eritrea, mostly entering illegally through Egypt's Sinai Peninsula and settling in Tel Aviv's impoverished neighbourhoods.
Israel has often referred to them either as ‘infiltrators’ or as economic migrants, denying them a legal obligation to refuge. However, international law protects them from being deported to their home country, serving as a poignant reminder of the need for compassionate and cooperative solutions to support displaced individuals.
The Economist Impact’s recently launched Refugee Opportunity Index (ROI), which is a comprehensive tool that assesses how host country legislation, policies, and practices facilitate refugees' economic integration. The ROI recognises refugees' potential to contribute to national economies and highlights barriers hindering their self-reliance and dignified livelihoods. It advocates for increased social and economic inclusion to unlock their untapped potential.
Sponsored by the Refugee Investment Network and the Inter-American Development Bank, this inaugural index focuses on ten countries in East Africa and Latin America/Caribbean. It evaluates policies related to admission, integration, resettlement, rights, services, and employment conditions.
The findings reveal significant variations in countries' performance. Costa Rica and Ecuador received strong overall scores and were recognized for their initiatives to promote refugees' skills. In contrast, Belize and the Dominican Republic lagged behind in all categories. While all countries provide certain rights and access to services, refugees often face informal sector work due to administrative challenges.A recent report by Freedom Collaborative and Winrock International uncovers the challenges faced by Central Asian migrants on risky migration journeys. It highlights migration patterns, reasons behind migration (mainly poverty and unemployment), vulnerability factors, and the means they use to migrate. Migrants are often recruited through friends or social events, with traffickers known to their victims. Upon arrival, they work in various industries, such as construction for males and the commercial sex trade for females. This report aims to guide responses to human trafficking and migrant exploitation, emphasising the importance of understanding push and pull factors, promoting gender inclusion, tackling poverty and unemployment, and severing the link between recruiters and victims.
Good Finds
Stories without Borders - An anthology of compelling short films, crafted by a diverse group of young filmmakers from Lebanon and Pakistan, examine the phenomenon of displacement. Through cinematic narratives, they uncover the resilience, challenges, and dreams of those navigating displacement's complexities. Themes span the care economy, mutual aid, employment struggles, and the vital role of community-based organisations in communities shaped by migration.
Labor of Loss - Check out this gripping podcast series on human trafficking that explores powerful stories from survivors, frontline responders, and legal advocates. Each episode transports you to different corners of Asia, from South Korean migrant fishermen to Cambodian brick kilns and Malaysian palm oil plantations. It also examines the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable migrant construction workers and the troubling issue of forced marriages.
AP Dhillon: First of A Kind - This recent Amazon Prime Docuseries on AP Dhillon, portrays the remarkable journey of the musician from the semi-rural landscapes of Punjab to Vancouver. It showcases Dhillon's candid reflections on leaving his homeland, his early job at Best Buy, and how he and his collaborators fused Western music with Punjabi lyrics to create a refreshing genre that resonates with millions. Capturing their journey from humble beginnings in a garage to their viral sensation, "Brown Munde," a song that represents the struggles and triumphs of the desi diaspora, and beyond, the docuseries highlights the power of cultural representation in the global era.
If you are interested in following similar diaspora stories of hope and perseverance, don’t forget to check out our latest series, Diaspora Diaries🛫, which endeavors to collect and preserve stories from the Indian diaspora worldwide to celebrate their unique experiences and contributions.
Thank you, we will see you again next month!
Best Wishes,
The IMN Team
Research and Drafting: Mihika Samant and Lakshmi Sivadas
Editorial Support: Pooja Bhatia
If you enjoyed this issue of Migration Matters, do share it with your friends and family. Any feedback is welcomed at communications@indiamigrationnow.org.