Global grid

The government8217;s announcement that it will open dual citizenship to all Indians who migrated after January 26, 1950, irons out the last...

The government8217;s announcement that it will open dual citizenship to all Indians who migrated after January 26, 1950, irons out the last wrinkles in the proposal. For years, overseas Indians have sought dual citizenship as affirmation of enduring ties with their country of origin. Affixing a date of migration is a more gracious way of getting around certain obstacles 8212; such as the status of territories included in pre-Independence India 8212; than closing the option to persons of Indian origin in just a handful of countries. It is an idea whose time has come, and barring a few correctives, the groundwork had already been complete. More heartening, therefore, is the PM8217;s promise to streamline registration procedures as well as for routing investment in India. Enabling enterprise is perhaps the most effective way to forge durable bonds between India and its diaspora.

India8217;s relations with the diaspora have been fraught with ambiguities. Whether as indentured labour to sugar plantations in the Caribbean or as technical professionals in the Silicon Valley, Indians have mostly tended to migrate for economic reasons. But even as India basks proudly in the roster of achievements by assorted NRIs, a desire to give back to India, to harness the forces of globalisation to remit expertise and capital, have run into bureaucratic obstructionism. Little wonder then India has failed to optimise its NRI potential. Certainly, lobbies like Indian-Americans have played a key role in putting forth New Delhi8217;s views in world capitals. But India has not seen the kind of repatriation of talent that South Korea has. Neither has it mopped up FDI from its diaspora like China has.

It is certainly a valid point that India8217;s cultural bonds with its diaspora have given the relationship unmatched durability. Globalisation, however, have placed these extra-territorial ties at a critical juncture. Both resident Indians and NRIs would benefit immensely from simplification of investment and remittance procedures.