.

6^th ODI Young Scholar Diaspora Conference (YSDC)

On

“Impact of COVID-19 on Diverse Indian Diasporas in Africa:

Role, Challenges, Expectations and Emerging Research Agenda”

27^th June 2020; from 9:30 AM to 4:40 PM

Jointly organised by

Centre for African Studies (CAS), SIS, JNU &

Centre for Diaspora Studies, Central University of Gujarat (CUG)

In collaboration with

Organisation for Diaspora Initiatives (ODI India)

On WebEx platform hosted at JNU

PROGRAMME

Inaugural Session                  9:30 AM-10:00 AM

 Theme Session                                  10:10 AM- 10:26 AM

 Technical Session I                          10:26 AM- 11:46 AM

Technical Session II                          11:46 AM-1:05 PM

LUNCH BREAK

Technical Session III                        2:00 PM-3:20 PM

Technical Session IV              Panel Presentation and Discussion          3:20 PM-4:40 PM

Concept Note

“Impact of COVID-19 on Diverse Indian Diasporas in Africa: Role, Challenges, Expectations and Emerging Research Agenda”

Webinar Conveners:  Ms. Ivy Handique (Doctoral Researcher, JNU) and Dr. Rajneesh Gupta, Co-Convener (Assistant Professor, Centre for Diaspora Studies, Central University of Gujarat)

ODI Webinar Series Coordinators: Dr. Sushmita Rajwar, (Faculty, DU) and Ms Aarshi Dua (Doctoral Researcher, JNU)

Impact of COVID-19 on Diverse Indian Diasporas in Africa: Role, Challenges, Expectations and Emerging Research Agenda

The global pandemic of novel Corona has not only brought entire socio-economic structures into a standstill but has also challenged globalization and global operations of enterprises. Out of 30 million people comprising the Indian Diaspora, around 3 million People of Indian Origin (PIO) live in Africa which has diverse experiences in Anglophone, Francophone, Lusophone and Arabic-African countries.  There three million Indian diaspora consists of PIO and that of Indian passport holders (NRI). People are worried about the spread of the virus in Africa as there is lack of equipment, lack of funding, insufficient training of healthcare workers, and inefficient data generation and availability. Indian Diaspora in Africa eagerly looks forward for support from both host and home countries.

In such unprecedented times, the role of Indian Diaspora has to be understood. The Indian Diaspora has been taking several initiatives for example, Indians living across Mali have taken an initiative to collect funds among the Indian Diaspora in Mali to contribute to Mali’s fight against COVID-19. They feel that their duties are both towards ‘Janam Bhoomi’(home) and ‘Karam Bhoomi’(host). At the same time in some countries PIO are also facing certain challenges in their fight against Covid-19. India’s High Commissioner to Nigeria managed to extend requisite help to stranded and distressed Indians, by helping them access to approved medical facilities for testing and hospitalization, providing visa-related assurances, facilitating locally arranged supply of medicines and food to patients. Also, the North African state of Tunisia sent back 25 stranded Indians onboard in its military flight free of charge who were from states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and UP. The current role of Indian Diaspora and the challenges faced by them also brings us to the way forward for them, African governments, African civil societies, world communities and their home country. It needs to be examined as to what lies ahead for the Indian Diaspora in the African continent?

The outbreak of the corona virus has reached a worrying figure and confirmed positive cases across the African continent are increasing every day. As African countries firm up strategies to deal with the pandemic, the Indian Diaspora has some expectations from home countries and at the same time there are also expectations from them by their home country. More than 1,000 Indians stranded in Tanzania following COVID-19 pandemic have sought the intervention of Indian government for their repatriation. From facilitating hospitalization in Lagos, supplying Indian food in Benin City of Edo State, assisting in medical supplies and ensuring overstay visa-waivers; the efforts of the Indian High Commission in Nigeria have had a positive impact. Also, Indian Diaspora remittances from Africa is expected to take a huge knock as the Corona virus has put a brake on the economic activities and the inability of the expats to send money home along with lost revenues from remittances and tourism. 

The emerging research agenda points out at several factors that can be further taken up for research in the post-covid-19 times. Several ideas have been pushed forward to deepen India’s engagement with Africa and also to help the Indian Diaspora in Africa in some or the other way by the Indian government.  The Ministry of External Affairs has already extended the e-ITEC course on “COVID-19 Pandemic: Prevention and Management Guidelines for Healthcare Professionals” to healthcare workers in Africa. Technological innovations from India could be crucial in providing assistance to African nations specifically in the field of healthcare, education and agriculture. One needs to share the diverse experience of PIO in Africa, role and responses of local government and communities, and their role for larger African communities.

Thus, keeping in mind the role, challenges, expectations and emerging research agenda for the Indian Diaspora in Africa, the proposed Conference would broadly deliberate on the following sub-themes under four different sessions: 

1. African countries with Indian Diaspora under COVID-19: Diverse experiences of Anglophone, Francophone, Lusophone and Arabic Africa

2. Impact of COVID-19 on Indian Diaspora in Africa: Their role, challenges and way forward.

3. Indian Diaspora in Africa during COVID-19: Their expectations and expectations from them- local and beyond.

4. Emerging research agendas for Indian Diaspora in Africa in the post-COVID situation- panel presentation and  discussion