I will start placing my perspective as a member of youth representing Indian Diaspora through 4 lenses, my verticals that is Economic. Political, Foreign Policy and Education:
Economic Front
Indian diaspora is one of the richest minorities in many developed countries, this helped them to lobby for favorable terms regarding India‘s interests. For example, at 2.8 million, Indians may number just 1% of the U.S. population, but they are the most educated and richest minority, according to a 2013 Pew survey. In general, migrants’ remittances have positive systemic effects on the balance of payments. Remittances of $70-80 billion help to bridge a wider trade deficit.
Political Front
Many people of Indian origin hold top political positions in many countries, in the US itself they are now a significant part of Republicans and Democrats, as well as the government. The political clout of India’s diaspora can be estimated by the fact, the role it played in turning around doubting legislators into voting for the India-U.S. nuclear deal.
Foreign Policy Front
Indian diaspora is not just a part of India’s soft power, but a fully transferable political vote bank as well. rime Minister Narendra Modi’s reception at Madison Square Garden, NY and later in Houston and then in Ahmedabad is a way of thanking the Indian- American community members who played a big part in his electronic campaign and election funding. The institutionalization of “diaspora diplomacy” and now “Vaccine diplomacy” is a distinct indication for the fact that a country’s diaspora community has become considerably more important as a subject of interest for foreign policy and associated government activities.
Education Front
Attainment distinguishes the Indian diaspora population from the US German population, and the Indian diaspora was one of the most highly educated off the 15 groups in the RAD analysis. 79% of Indian diaspora each 25 and older in the United States had earned at least a bachelor’s degree compared to 31% of the US population overall. 44% of Indian diaspora age 25 and elders in United States at earned a master’s degree advanced professional degree or PhD versus 11% of the US general public. Indian first-generation immigrants were especially well educated and in fact their academic achievements surpassed that of the second generation the Indian diaspora was unique among the 15 countries 45% versus 39% holding the advanced degree Indian ancestry in the United states did not hold true for woman 51% of Indian first-generation men and 37 of second-generation men held an advanced degree whereas 38% of Indian first-generation woman and 41% of second-generation women hold
Challenges
Regulatory Cholesterol: There are many inadequacies of the Indian system for the diaspora to collaborate with India or to invest in the country. Negative Fallout: It must be remembered that having a strong diaspora does not always translate to benefits for the home country. India has had problems with negative campaigning and foreign funding.
Way Forward
Indian diaspora can provide the requisite strategic impulse, which makes it all the more important to unlock India’s potential. India should formulate a new NRI policy, the government must immediately work with developed countries to ask that they kick back a portion of the income tax revenues they collect from the Indian diaspora. There is a need for a strategic diaspora evacuation policy from conflict zones in a world where crises materialize without warnings and give very little reaction time for governments. India’s foreign policy aims to translate partnerships to benefits for key projects like Swachh Bharat, Clean Ganga, Make In India, Digital India, and Skill India, the diaspora has plenty of scopes to contribute. VAJRA (Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty) scheme which seeks to formalize a rotation program wherein top NRI scientists, engineers, doctors, managers and professionals serve Indian public sector organizations for a brief period, lending their expertise- is a step in the right direction. Improvement in ease of doing business will go long, in enabling investments from the Indian diaspora.