An International E-Conference was convened jointly by the New Delhi based Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism (GRFDT), Mexico based Center for Research on North America (CISAN), UNAM, and Philippines based Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA), with the overarching theme “Migration, Diasporas and Sustainable Development: Perspectives, Policies, Opportunities and Challenges” from 2nd -5th November 2020. The virtual conference witnessed a galaxy of participants, speakers, academicians, policymakers and civil society activist who debated and discussed various facets connected with the term Migration, Diasporas and Sustainable Development.
The session titled Perspectives on Migration and Diaspora-III was chaired by Prof Anisur Rahman. Prof Rahman, Director of UGC-HRDC, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, initiated the fascinating discussion on emerging new perspectives related to migration and diaspora and introduced the paper presenters.
The Chinese Diaspora in Kolkata
There is a migratory trend among the young generation of the Chinese diaspora in Kolkata to the western world. However, still, they consider Kolkata as their ‘home’ and not as ‘homeland’ and maintain diasporic contact with it: Dr Arpita Bose.
Dr Arpita Bose, Assistant Professor, Hoogly Mohsin College, India, shed light on the topic ‘The Chinese Diaspora in Kolkata: A Study of its Growth and Decline’. She argued that the Chinese are an integral part of the social landscape of Kolkata since the late 18th century. However, Chinese diaspora is obscure and unknown to the maximum people of society. Dr Bose pointed out Chinese migration to Kolkata can be discerned into three phases; the first wave of Chinese migrants began to migrate in Kolkata in the 19th century, especially the skilled workers. The second wave of Chinese migrants started to arrive in half of the 20th century. Thirdly, the last wave of Chinese migrants in Kolkata came after the Second World War. Over the years, the political turmoil, unemployment problems and internal political conflict are the possible reasons for the Chinese out-migration, as cited by Dr Bose.
In her discussion, she also leans on few dynamics exhibited by the different generations of the Chinese diaspora in Kolkata. The early migrants were bachelors and temporary residents in Kolkata, who wished to return to their homeland after earning money. However, the scenario had begun to change rapidly since the first half of the nineteenth century. Signifying the numbers, she further argued, that at present there are 3000 Chinese migrants in Kolkata. The Chinese diaspora has established locality in Calcutta, known as ‘Adi China para’ (old Chinatown)’ and later at the eastern part of Calcutta as ‘New China Town’. The Chinese diaspora is trade based diaspora, engaged in works like carpentry, shoemaking and dentistry and of late they are also operating in restaurants business.
The hybrid identity of the Chinese diaspora in Kolkata did not form naturally. They were declared stateless, in 1962, as they could not produce valid documents, including a birth certificate and passport. Therefore, the Chinese diaspora had to face a lot of struggle to integrate into Kolkata.
After a long battle in 1998, the Indian government naturalised and accepted them as Indian citizens, known as ‘Chinese Indian or Indian Chinese’. However, there is an inclination among them to leave India for western countries, especially the young Chinese generations to Toronto and Canada, altering their demographic composition. In Canada, these diasporas refer themselves as ‘Canada Indian Chinese’. The diaspora considers Kolkata as ‘home’ and maintains the diasporic contact. However, the migration trend imposes question on the future of the Chinese colony in Kolkata, but she further hopes that these population will assimilate in the mainstream Kolkata society.
Risks and Vulnerabilities to female out-migrants
Women migrant are viewed as an add-on challenge in a society that usually doesn’t consider them as leaders. They face gendered discrimination, sexual discrimination and harassment: Dr Chitralekha Kumar.
Through her paper, Dr Chitralekha Kumar, Assistant Professor, L.N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research, Mumbai, India, elaborated on the topic ‘Discernment of risks and Vulnerabilities of Female out-migrants from Bihar in Maharashtra, India’. According to Dr Kumar, urbanisation in India has significantly impacted the rural population, and there has been a concentration of people to the metropolitan cities from the peripheral areas. Mumbai city is one of the preferred choices for migrants for better prospects of livelihood. Among various types of migration like temporary, external, internal and international, internal migration is difficult to define and considered as a movement from rural to urban areas. The literature on migration is viewed from a male perspective, and there is a shortage of literature on women migrants in Asian countries, she further added.
Dr Kumar aimed to understand the challenges faced by the female migrants in Navi Mumbai region of Maharashtra. These migrants were the breadwinners of their family, and they sold fruits and vegetables in the local area market. Her study revealed that half of the female migrants were deprived of basic hygiene and sanitation facilities from the data collected from Panvel, Kamothe, Sanpada and Vashi market area. Some of the other challenges faced by the women were; harassments from the local goons; lack of availability of drinking water, safety and security.
Migration is undoubtedly empowering the women, but still, they are facing a lot of risks and challenges. NGOs and volunteer can play a significant role in supporting these migrants, and a policy level intervention from government support for the livelihood of the female migrant’s workers in Navi Mumbai is the need, Dr Kumar concluded.
Health and Wellbeing of Migrant Workers in Kerala
Interstate migration possesses multiple health vulnerabilities to those who move and to those who host them: Dr Anish K.R and Ms Ayswarya James.
Dr Anish K.R, Assistant Professor & Project Director and Ms Ayswarya James, Research Assistant, ICSSR-IMPRESS Project on Migration and Health, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous), Kochi, Kerala, respectively, presented their co-authored paper on the topic “Access to Health and Wellbeing of Migrant Workers in Kerala: An inquiry into policy implications for achieving the 2030 Agenda of SDGs”. Starting off the presentations, Dr Anish initiated the discussion by highlighting the global migration trend. Global migration is increasing every year, and as per 2019 statistics revealed by the World Migration Report (2020), International migrants constitutes 272 million globally. In India, the state of Kerala contributes to the highest number of external migration. In terms of inward migration to Kerala, people migrate from different parts of northern states like UP, Bihar etc. Dr Anish designed his study in the context of the fulfilment of the targets and indicators of Sustainable development Goals (SDGs) 3 on Health and well-being, and its 2030 Agenda.
Dr Anish underscores specific triggers that guide movement of people from the home community, such as poverty, conflict, inequality and lack of decent jobs. With the onset of COVID-19, migrant health vulnerabilities increased. The study argues that the fulfilment of the SDGs of the host community depends on safeguarding the health needs of those impacted. Therefore, certain factors like home community health characteristics; host community situations and health characteristic and dimensions of universal health coverage, like equity, quality of health services, accessibility, affordability and health system capabilities can help to achieve desired health conditions. Some of the existing vulnerabilities experienced by the migrant workers are; human rights abuses, social security needs are not met, exclusion from health care, living conditions are not right, and language barriers to name a few. The study also explored the capabilities of health systems to address the health needs of migrant labourers in the state in four domain, 1) health status and health needs, 2) health-related behaviours, 3) health system capabilities and 4) accessibility and affordability of health care services.
Dr Anish concluded by stressing that the rights of the migrant workers and their health care needs have to be protected. Simultaneously, he also directs policy implications for the benefits of the migrant community as well as the host community.
Narratives of Indian Women Writers in the Diaspora
Migration and diaspora not experienced by all the generations in a homogenous manner due to the prevalence of gendered practice and circumstances: Ms Anindita Shome
Ms Anindita Shome, Research Scholar, University of Hyderabad, presented on the topic ‘Diasporic Identities and Experiences through Narratives of Indian Women Writers in the Diaspora’. Ms Shome shared her rendering thoughts on the literature on the Indian diaspora. She argued that the literature on Indian diaspora is rich. Similarly, the different waves of migration from India to other parts of the world, the fictional narratives of the Indian immigrants and diaspora reveal their unique experiences and journeys that have shaped migration into one of the most substantial diasporas of the world.
Women in the diaspora occupy an indispensable position, as they are expected to be the carriers of the cultures of the homeland yet assimilate and integrate with the host nation.
Ms Shome selected two prominent writings of Jhumpa Lahiri and Bharati Mukherjee to understand how these Indian women writers in the diaspora deal with the ideas of nation, home and belonging. The selected work brought out the unique experiences of women in diasporic spaces- the gendered roles they play; the carriers of traditions and cultures of the homeland etc. She further hopes that the distinct diaspora experiences of Indian diaspora women and their mainstream narratives get equal representation and intergenerational changes.
Overall, the session witnessed diverse perspectives and insightful intervention from academician Prof. Chandrashekhar Bhat, Former professor, Hyderabad Central University that set the discussion in motion.
Naziya Naweed is a Research Scholar at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.