News Analysis India

Tag: migration

  • Over 17.5 lakh Indians renounced their citizenship since 2011

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Over 17.50 lakh Indians have renounced their citizenship between 2011 and June 2023, according to data tabled by the Ministry of External Affairs in the parliament.

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed the Lok Sabha on Friday that as many as 87,026 Indian nationals have renounced their citizenship till June this year.

    He also cited that 2.25 lakh Indians renounced their citizenships in 2022, 1.63 lakh in 2021, 85,256 in 2020; 1.44 lakh in 2019; 1.34 lakh in 2018; 1.33 lakh in 2017; 1.41 lakh in 2016; 1.31 lakh in 2015; 1.29 lakh in 2014; 1.31 lakh in 2013; 1.20 lakh in 2012 and 1.22 lakh in 2011.

    According to the minister, many of them have taken up foreign citizenship due to personal convenience. “The number of Indian nationals exploring the global workplace has been significant in the last two decades. Many of them have chosen to take up foreign citizenship for reasons of personal convenience,” the minister said.

    Recognising that the Indian community abroad is an asset to the nation, Jaishankar said, the government has brought about a transformational change in its engagement with the diaspora.

    “A successful, prosperous and influential diaspora is an advantage for India and our approach is to tap diaspora networks and utilise its reputation for national gain,” he said.

    “The government is cognizant of this development and has undertaken a range of initiatives around the ‘Make in India’ scheme that would harness their talents at home,” Jaishankar informed the House.

    Sharing the names of countries whose citizenship is being acquired by Indians, the minister further said that there are 135 countries wherein Indians are seeking citizenship. This includes the US, the UK, Australia, Belgium, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Canada, Denmark, Fiji, Ghana, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Russia, Poland, South Africa, Spain and the UAE among others.

    Interestingly, Indians are also taking up citizenship in countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Iran, Iraq, Jordon, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Qatar, Serbia, Sudan, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, and Vietnam.

    Yearwise data on Indians renouncing citizenship

    2022 – 2,25,6202021 – 1,63,3702020- 85,2562019- 1,44,0172018- 1,34,5612017- 1,33,0492016- 1,41,6032015 – 1,31,4892014- 1,29,3282013- 1,31,4052012 – 1,20,9232011 – 1,22,819

    NEW DELHI: Over 17.50 lakh Indians have renounced their citizenship between 2011 and June 2023, according to data tabled by the Ministry of External Affairs in the parliament.

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed the Lok Sabha on Friday that as many as 87,026 Indian nationals have renounced their citizenship till June this year.

    He also cited that 2.25 lakh Indians renounced their citizenships in 2022, 1.63 lakh in 2021, 85,256 in 2020; 1.44 lakh in 2019; 1.34 lakh in 2018; 1.33 lakh in 2017; 1.41 lakh in 2016; 1.31 lakh in 2015; 1.29 lakh in 2014; 1.31 lakh in 2013; 1.20 lakh in 2012 and 1.22 lakh in 2011.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    According to the minister, many of them have taken up foreign citizenship due to personal convenience. “The number of Indian nationals exploring the global workplace has been significant in the last two decades. Many of them have chosen to take up foreign citizenship for reasons of personal convenience,” the minister said.

    Recognising that the Indian community abroad is an asset to the nation, Jaishankar said, the government has brought about a transformational change in its engagement with the diaspora.

    “A successful, prosperous and influential diaspora is an advantage for India and our approach is to tap diaspora networks and utilise its reputation for national gain,” he said.

    “The government is cognizant of this development and has undertaken a range of initiatives around the ‘Make in India’ scheme that would harness their talents at home,” Jaishankar informed the House.

    Sharing the names of countries whose citizenship is being acquired by Indians, the minister further said that there are 135 countries wherein Indians are seeking citizenship. This includes the US, the UK, Australia, Belgium, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Canada, Denmark, Fiji, Ghana, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Russia, Poland, South Africa, Spain and the UAE among others.

    Interestingly, Indians are also taking up citizenship in countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Iran, Iraq, Jordon, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Qatar, Serbia, Sudan, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, and Vietnam.

    Yearwise data on Indians renouncing citizenship

    2022 – 2,25,620
    2021 – 1,63,370
    2020- 85,256
    2019- 1,44,017
    2018- 1,34,561
    2017- 1,33,049
    2016- 1,41,603
    2015 – 1,31,489
    2014- 1,29,328
    2013- 1,31,405
    2012 – 1,20,923
    2011 – 1,22,819

  • Develop border areas to mitigate migration: Arunachal CM Pema Khandu to Centre

    By PTI

    ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu urged the Centre for comprehensive infrastructure and development schemes for the border areas to mitigate migration.

    Khandu called on Union Minister for the Development of North Eastern Region G Kishan Reddy in New Delhi on Friday and suggested developing model villages with all basic amenities in the border areas so that it benefits the local populace and promotes tourism in the region.

    In the meeting, he emphasised on the introduction of the Northeastern states in the national curriculum to create greater awareness and promote fraternity among all Indians, as per an official statement.

    Khandu said the North Eastern Council should act as a think tank of the region for the creation of ideas and promoting overall development.

    Khandu also called on Union Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Anurag Thakur and briefed him about the sports scenario of the state.

    He informed the minister that Arunachal Pradesh has tremendous potential in sports activities.

    “The youth in the state have taken sports as a career option which is in fact a positive sign,” Khandu said, underscoring inadequate infrastructure and facilities as bottlenecks in the sports sector of the state.

    The chief minister urged Thakur to address the issue and release funds pending with the ministry under various heads.

    Khandu later called on Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, and Petroleum Hardeep Singh Puri and placed a request for the financial requirements on the Urban Tourism Infrastructure Development Plan for 12 tourist circuits of the state.

    He urged the minister to consider implementing a GIS-based integrated drainage master plan for the capital region, besides seeking relaxation for Arunachal Pradesh on eligibility under the AMRUT scheme.

    Khandu also discussed pending petroleum exploration licenses and petroleum mining lease in Arunachal Pradesh and promotion and mining activities in the state.

    Matters such as the establishment of a nursing college in Itanagar, support for the development of the state through PSUs and establishment of storage depots of petroleum products were also discussed in the meeting.

    The Union ministers assured to lend all possible support to the state, the statement said.

    Khandu was accompanied by Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar during the meetings, it added.

  • EC data shows migration from hill side regions in Uttarakhand, makes way for more ‘ghost villages’

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: The latest voter list of Uttarakhand has revealed decline in voters of hilly areas of the state assembly constituencies while in plain areas voters continue to increase in numbers. 

    So much so that now 12 hill side constituencies have less than 90,000 voters. The state has total 70 assembly constituencies. 

    Analysts say if the trend continues, political importance of the hill areas will weaken which may prompt further negligence of the remote hills of Uttarakhand inducing more migration than ever.

    Shekhar Pathak, Padam Shri awardee activist, author from Uttarakhand, commenting on the matter said, “The data is indicator of recording population from hilly areas. The most important step needed here is including geographic criteria too in delimitation of constituency seats. Defining number of voters in hills can futher shift power balance in the favor of plains and lead to the neglection of hills thereby encouraging more migration. Efforts are needed to be put in to check the migration from the hills.”

    PC Tiwari, Almora based activist and statehood agitator said, “Political parties have reaped dividends but have ignored concerns of Uttarakhand hills. The people of the state need to step up and oppose the agenda of political parties to destroy the Himalayas.”

    Rohit Joshi, another activist based in Pithoragarh district who has filed a public interest litigation opposing Pancheswar dam project spanning three districts- Champawat, Almora and Pithoragarh claiming that it will affect an estimated population of around 55,000 in total 134 affected villages in districts Pithoragarh (87), Champawat (26) and Almora (21) most of whom were illiterate or semi-literate and had not been fully informed of the implications of the project, said, “The basis of the demand for a separate Uttarakhand state was the negligence of this area due to its specific geographical situation. But even after the formation of Uttarakhand, due to the population-based delimitation of the constituencies, the representation of the plain areas is increasing as compared to the hilly areas. It has many reasons like migration from the villages of the hills. So, the same threat is haunting again to the people of the state who fought for the separate state with a dream to develop Uttarakhand through a decentralized development model, which can address issues of the marginalized areas of the remote hills. In Uttarakhand, the area-based delimitation of the constituencies should be done, so that the remote hilly areas can also get adequate representation.”

    On Friday, after the summary revision of the voter list the Election Commission of India issued a fresh confirming 78.15 lakh voters in Uttarakhand. 

    Out of total 78.15 lakh, 40.74 lakh voters are male, 37.40 lakh are female and 233 are included under ‘others’ category. 

    The state assembly constituencies with highest voter count include Dharampur constituenc with over 1.93 lakh followed by Raipur with 1.64 lakh.

    Interestingly, Dharampur constituency in Dehradun district has more voters (1.93 lakh) than Rudraprayag district’s two constituencies combined which stand 1.88 lakh.

    The constituencies from the hilly areas of the state with less than 90,000 voters include Purola constituency of Uttarkashi district with least number of voters across 70 constituencies of Uttarakhand- 71,341. 

    Purola constituency in ascending order is followed by Ranikhet with around 78000 voters followed by Tehri (80,000), Dhanolti (81000), Lansdowne (82000), Pratap Nagar (82000), Devprayag (82000), Gangotri (83000), Someshwar (85000), Kedarnath (87000), Narendra Nagar (87000), Chaubattakhal (89000) and Almora with around 89000 voters. 

    Commenting on the issue Dr Devendra Bhasin, spokesperson of the state Bhartiya Janta Party unit said, “The issue of migration is old one in the state and our government is making every effort to check migration. A commission has been formed by our honorable Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat to adress the issue. Many schemes have been launched to provide employment and strengthen health, education facilities in the hills.”

    Countering the claims of the ruling party, Indira Hridayesh, Indian National Congress MLA from Haldwani and leader of opposition in Uttarakhand legislative assembly said, “Issue of migration from the hills indicates that the BJP government has failed on every front be it upgradation of infrastructure or providing health, education and other basic facilities. This is not good for state as well as the country. Uttarakhand shares border with China and Nepal. The issue needs to be addressed diligently.”

    The data by Uttarakhand State Rural Development and Migration Commission (SRDMC) points out psitive growth rate in the population in districts such as Dehradun, Udham Singh Nagar, Nainital and Haridwar while in the mountain districts of Pauri, Almora, Tehri, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Rudraprayag and Pithoragarh, there has been negative rate of decadal increase in the population.

    According to the commission, set up by the Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, the hill state has around 700 ghost villages. The data by the commission released in year 2018 also pointed out that more than 3.83 lakh people left their homes in the duration from year 2007-17. 

    Around 50% of them had left in search of livelihood, according to a report released by the SRDMC in May last year. Uttarakhand has around 16,500 villages, of which 734 have become ‘Ghost Villages’.