International Web-Conference

Celebrating the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD)

on

India and it’s Diaspora Connect: Challenges and Opportunities

organised by

Organisation for Diaspora Initiatives (ODI India)

in Collaboration with

Diaspora and International Migration Programme (DIMP), CAS-School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi

&

Sarnámihuis, the Netherlands 

on

11^th  January 2022

from 8:00 PM to 10:15 PM (Indian Standard Time)

Registration LINK & QR CODE:  shorturl.at/oprQ6

(Registration closes on 10 January 2022, by 5:00 PM Indian Standard Time)

Conference Coordinators: Dr. Sushmita Rajwar, Assistant Professor, University of Delhi &

Ms. Aarshi Dua, Doctoral Fellow, CAS-School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University

Media Coordinators: Mr. Samir Bhattacharya, CAS-School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University & Ms. Sarita Nandmehar, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University

Documentation & Certification Support: Ms. Ivy Handique, Doctoral Fellow, CAS-School of International Studies, JNU &

  Ms. Chandani Tiwari, Doctoral Fellow, CAS-School of International Studies, JNU

PROGRAMME SCHEDULE

CONCEPT NOTE:

Diasporas engagement with their countries of origin is not new. Long before researchers, the international community and the policymakers took notice, emigrants and their descendants have taken part in development efforts at home, working with both the public and the private sphere. Now, more than ever before governments at both ends of the migration cycle recognize the value of these engagements and are seeking ways to cooperate with them.

Countries of origin wish to attract Diasporas talents and resources, while countries of destination hope to increase the effectiveness of their development assistance and immigration and integration policies.

India is one of the pioneers in recognising the importance of its overseas population and establishing an institutional framework for sustainable and mutually beneficial engagement with its Diaspora. India has given mainstream attention to its very large overseas Indian community. Estimated as the largest Diaspora at over 32 million and spread across 189 countries, overseas Indians are today recognised as the ‘Knowledge Diaspora’. Their ‘virtual presence’ across sectors and in most parts of the globe makes them a strategic resource. India recognises the need, therefore, to bring a strategic dimension to its engagement with its overseas community.

It has taken a medium to long term view and is attempting to forge a partnership that will best serve India as a rapidly growing knowledge economy – to drive innovation and entrepreneurship - and meet the aspirations of the overseas Indian community as a significant constituency across the world. However, as India diaspora is very diverse in the ethnic, religious, linguistic category; located in diverse regions, Anglophone, Francophone, Lusophone, Arabic, and Dutch speaking countries; with different strengths and potentials- from high and super skilled persons to low skilled and unskilled workers; the diaspora engagement of India cannot be of uniform pattern. They are, therefore, many challenges and opportunities.

The Organisation of Diaspora Studies is organizing an International Web-Conference  on 11^th January 2022 to examine the possible road maps, best global practices, roles and impacts of different stakeholders and to identify the existing gaps in diaspora engagement practices of India in a comparative and global context.

The subthemes of the Web-Conference are:

1.  The historical pattern of the Indian diaspora connect

2.  Indian diaspora connect under globalization: policy and practice

3.  The Indian diaspora connect: economic opportunities and experiences

4.  The Indian diaspora connect: political, diplomatic and lobbying experiences