UNHCR report that India is a second home for hundreds who had left their home ‘to avoid war, oppression or fear of persecution’ does come as a surprise. General perception thus far has been that despite its riches and advances India is still seen as a LDC and that it is in no position to compete with modern El’ Dorado’s like the US, UK, Germany or even the Gulf market which has a great appetite for new hands.
So, what makes India emerge as the second home to refugees? It is the sense of security it provides to everyone who comes to the country and offers enough opportunities to make a living since India is a huge country with varying geographical conditions and stages of development. Another India plus are Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution which guarantee the right to equality before law and the right to life and personal liberty respectively to anyone residing in the country.
Any how this elevation on UNHCR pecking is great news for India on the World Refugee Day (June 20) observed this year with the theme ‘Real People, Real Needs’. It shows that the country of one billion (1.21 billion to be exact by the Census 2011) and thus the second most populous after China, has been living true to its ancient philosophy of ‘Universal Brotherhood’ (Vasudhaika Kutumbakam). Because a country to it west is known to use the war hit refugees as diplomatic pawns for getting military riches, while another to its northeast throws the dissidents into jail with or without provocation.
As the UNHCR country operations profile shows India is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol and does not have a national refugee protection frame- work. But it has not allowed these necessities to stand in the way of help to people who cross its borders with fear in the hearts and prayer on the lips.
The government agencies take care of Tibetan and Lanka Tamil refugees, while UNHCR carries out the refugee status determination (RSD) for asylum-seekers from Myanmar, Afghanistan and non-neighbouring countries.
Holders of documentation provided by UNHCR are able to obtain temporary residence permits in India. Besides an office in Delhi, UNHCR has a presence in the South at Chennai ostensibly to address the problems of ethnic Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka, most of whom are now slowly returning to their home turf.
Estimates put the number of asylum seekers in India at around 180,00,000, and refugees at around 18,000.
