Context
As India has decided to allow Hasina to remain in the country till she gets asylum in the UK, this decision brings to light the broader issue of India’s approach to refugees. There has been little to no clarity on the Centre’s refugee policy.
Refugee Crisis in India
- Afghan Refugees: With the Taliban’s resurgence in Afghanistan, there has been an inflow of Afghan refugees into India looking for security and asylum. Many of them are Sikhs and Hindus facing spiritual persecution.
- Rohingya Crisis: Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar have sought refuge in India because of ethnic violence and persecution in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
- India has been grappling with their fame, with the government taking a firm stance on their deportation.
- Tibetan Refugees: Tibetans were residing in India because of the 1959 Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule.
- They are granted refugee status and live mainly in settlements in states like Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka.
- Sri Lanka: In the case of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, many of them are in camps in Tamil Nadu. The state government provides them an allowance and allows them to seek jobs, and their children to attend school.
- After the give up of the Sri Lanka civil battle in 2009, India has endorsed return by the approach of voluntary repatriation, if the situation back home is secure.
India’s Policy on Refugees
- India has welcomed refugees inside the beyond, with nearly 300,000 people categorized as refugees.
- This includes the Tibetans, Chakmas from Bangladesh, and refugees from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and many others.
- But India is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention or the 1967 Protocol referring to the Status of Refugee. Nor does India have a refugee policy or a refugee law.
- Reason: This has allowed India to hold its options open at the query of refugees.
- The government can declare any set of refugees as unlawful immigrants — as has come about with Rohingya despite the UNHCR verification — and determine to deal with them as trespassers under the Foreigners Act or the Indian Passport Act.
- All foreign undocumented nationals are ruled as according to the provisions of The Foreigners Act, 1946, The Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, The Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 and The Citizenship Act, 1955.
- s per the MHA foreign nationals who enter into the country without valid travel documents are treated as illegal immigrants.
Reasons for India’s Policy on Refugees
- Resource Strain: Hosting refugees places strain on resources including food, water, housing, and healthcare centers, in particular in regions where infrastructure is already stretched thin.
- Social Cohesion: Large numbers of refugees can strain social brotherly love, probably leading to tensions with host groups, particularly while resources are perceived as scarce.
- Security Concerns: There are security concerns related to refugee influxes, consisting of the capability of infiltration of extremist elements or challenges in monitoring movements across porous borders.
- Diplomatic Relations: Hosting refugees can pressure diplomatic members of the family with neighboring nations or nations of starting place, especially if there are geopolitical tensions or disputes involved.
- Economic Impact: Refugees compete for low-skilled jobs, affecting the local job market, while their potential contributions to the economic system through entrepreneurship or hard work might not be completely realized.
Way Ahead
- India can work towards a comprehensive method to handle the refugee disaster, ensuring that refugees get hold of the security and support they need whilst selling stability and cooperation inside the region.
- Refugee Status Determination: Establish clean approaches for figuring out refugee status and offer legal protection hence.
- Access to Rights: Ensure refugees have access to basic rights along with training, healthcare, and employment.
- Regional Collaboration: Work with neighboring international locations and global organizations to manage refugee flows and percentage duties.
- Bilateral Agreements: Strengthen diplomatic ties to facilitate the secure go back or resettlement of refugees.
- Empowerment Initiatives: Support initiatives that empower refugees economically and socially, which includes vocational education and language training.
- Conflict Resolution: Address the foundation reasons of displacement through diplomatic efforts and assist for peacebuilding projects.
Source: The Indian Express
UPSC Mains Practice Question
Q. How does illegal transborder migration pose a threat to India’s security? Discuss the strategies to curb this, bringing out the factors which give impetus to such migration. (2014)