North America, Europe and Gulf continue to attract Indian workers despite economic crisis
NEW DELHI: India not just
continues to rank first in terms of remittances from its diaspora, just
short of $60 billion in 2010, but has also seen a huge jump in migration of its workers to North America, Europe and the Gulf despite economic turmoil there, says a World Bank expert.
"Of late, there is a significant increase in migration of workers from
India to North America, notably the US, as also Europe and the Gulf
countries," says Dilip Ratha, an expert on migration and remittance
issues with the World Bank.
"This is a bit surprising because
India is doing reasonably well, while the destination countries are in
financial trouble," Ratha, who has co-authored the latest World Bank
report on remittances and migration, told IANS in an interview over
phone from Geneva.
"This is probably the reflection of an
increased access to information and a rise in the income levels of
common people, which has enabled them to buy the air tickets and pay for
the migration costs."
Ratha said although there are no
official figures, the information gathered from Indian embassies and
other sources indicate such a trend in migration to different parts of
the world. They include young women as well.
But this comes with a cost.
"We had a lot of unskilled migrants going to the Gulf region, but fewer
to the US and Europe. Things are changing. They are also going to the
US and Europe. The Indian missions and the government have greater
responsibility to protect their interests," he said.
Ratha,
who co-authored the World Bank's latest "Migration and Development
Brief" -- that places remittances to India at $58 billion, ahead of $57
billion for China -- said both in-bound and outbound migration from
India was set to increase in the coming years.
According to
the World Bank expert, India's remittance flow, which was $55 billion in
the previous year, against $51 billion into China, may be more this
year, given some developments on the currency markets front.
"Our estimate is based on the average currency rate of three quarters.
The recent sharp depreciation in the value of rupee is not factored into
it. Considering the last month development, I am sure remittances will
be higher," he said.
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