Although India has hosted refugees of varying nationalities for decades, the country has done little beyond providing asylum. Critically examine. (200 words)
Refer – The Hindu
Enrich the answer from other sources, if the question demands.
IAS Parliament 6 years
KEY POINTS
Steps taken by India to host refugees
· India has reiterated its commitment towards the protection of refugees at various international fora, including the UN General Assembly.
· One of the most significant affirmations of this commitment was demonstrated by India becoming a signatory to the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants.
· In doing so, India has expressed its solidarity with those forced to flee and agreed that protecting refugees and supporting the countries that shelter them are shared international responsibilities that must be borne more equitably.
· The Declaration sets the stage for a new framework for refugee protection the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR).
· Two of its key objectives are to ease pressures on host countries and enhance refugee self-reliance.
· As a result, India is host to over 200,000 refugees who have been forced to flee conflict and persecution in their home countries.
· The refuges to India are from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Tibet.
Stressed refugees’ policies in India
· Although India has hosted refugees of varying nationalities for decades, the country has done little beyond providing asylum.
· Due to their unclear legal status and lack of uniform documentation, refugees have limited access to essential services and almost no avenues for livelihood.
· While some refugees have been able to generate income by working in the informal sector, many of them, especially vulnerable women are at the mercy of touts and traffickers even within their own community.
· At best, they are forced to rely on income from odd jobs which is an unsustainable livelihood option that often leaves them exposed to exploitation.
· Most refugees have been unable to return to their countries, leading to protracted refugee situations.
· There have been some attempts to introduce a refugee law in the country, but the government continues to adopt an ad hoc approach towards this group.
What measures needs to be taken?
· The solution to refugee concerns may lie within the GCR, which calls for States to identify gaps and opportunities for employment and income generation for refugees in a bid to enhance their self-reliance.
· It specifies the need to include the host community in enabling mapping skills, vocational training and capacity-building among refugee populations.
· India’s commitment to refugee protection under the GCR is evident in its active participation in ongoing GCR consultations, where it has emphasised the need for a clear mechanism for the refugee response regime.
· Therefore, this is an opportune time for India to reassess the need for a national asylum policy which is compliant with the principles laid down in the GCR.
