Whether it’s the rich western world of Europe and America where millions of refugees have landed in hope of asylum, or the South-East Asian countries like Malaysia, and Bangladesh, where thousands of Rohingya Muslims have entered from Buddhist Myanmar, the world is witnessing a refugee crisis far intense than ever before.
Although India has decided to deport nearly 40,000 Rohingyas, who illegally entered India from Myanmar and Bangladesh borders, but on the other hand, India is home to nearly 300,000 refugees from 30 odd countries.
Apart from refugees from neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Pakistan and Bangladesh, India also houses refugees from rich western countries like the US, UK, France, Germany and Australia.
Nearly three lakh refugees live in India
According to the latest available data which was presented by Minister Of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju in March 2016, a total of 2,89,394 refugees living in India (as on 31/12/2014) from 28 different countries which also included stateless people. This the number of refugees living in India legally and doesn’t include the numbers of Rohingyas and Bangladeshi migrants living illegally in India.
Most belong to Sri Lanka, Tibet, Bangladesh and Pakistan
Since Independence, India’s has seen lots of tension in its neighbourhood which has resulted in a large number of people flooding in India which now forms a large chunk of refugees that India have.
According to the data provided by the government, India houses most refugees most Sri Lanka following the Tamil problem and Sri Lankan civil war. India currently houses 102467 refugees from the Island nation.
Similarly, Tibet, which later becomes one of the reasons of Sino-India war in 1962 is another neighbouring land from where nearly 60,000 (58155 as per the data). The people from Pakistan (8799) and Bangladesh (103817) have also come to India to seek refuge. Though the number of Bangladesh refugees staying illegally is much higher, but the number of refugees staying legally isn’t quite less either.
They are entitled to have facilities at far with other foreigners living in India
When the incumbent minister was asked about the facilities these refugees are entitled to, the government stated, “Long term visas are granted to such foreigners based on the existing guidelines after due security verification etc which permits them for facilities at par with other foreigners such as employment in the private sector, undertake studies in any academic institution etc,” says the government.
Can India help in Syrian refugee crisis?
No exactly. Because India isn’t signatory to the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention nor its 1967 Protocol, the main reasons why most of the European countries which are not allowing refugees on their land are obliged to welcome them. Despite not being the signatory of accord India houses a handful of Syrians because they came via The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). As far as refugees from conflict zones are concerned India has people from Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan and Myanmar.
TN, Delhi, Uttrakhand house majority refugees
Tamil Nadu (10,2478), Delhi (10161), Uttrakhand (11768) and Chhattisgarh (62890) are among the top states and UT where a maximum number of refugees are located. Chandigarh (1) and Goa (3) have least number of refugees living there.
Non-Muslims who entered India illegally were given refugee status and later offered citizenship
A large numbers of non-Muslims have entered India following the religious upheaval in their own countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Most of them have entered India.
“Notification F No 25022/50/2015-F.I dated 07/09/2015 under passport (entry into India) Act, 1920 and Foreigners Act, 1946 have been issued by the ministry to regularize the entry and stay of persons belonging to minority communities in Bangladesh and Pakistan, namely Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who were compelled to seek shelter in India due to religious persecution or fear of religious persecution and entered India on or before the 31st December 2014,” answered the government in parliament when asked about the status of religious minorities entered India from neighbouring countries.
In April 2016, the government offered citizens to people who migrated from Bangladesh and Pakistan under special provisions.
No matter how difficult situation is there across the world, people look up to India with hope. India, in turn, always helps them with great concern.
SOURCE: India Times
