Problems of NRIs and their Sociological Analysis

First I would like to start my topic with a small story of my friend ‘Vicky’ who settled in Canada. His father is a small farmer residing in a village of Hoshiarpur.

He was 22 when he migrated to Canada – with big dreams in the eyes. University of Toronto campus was his home for next 2 years – prolonged sessions in the engineering labs, studying for exams until 4AM… working on the gas-station during week-end, this was the routine, he followed.

He pooled the apartment with 5 other Indian students – it was cheaper, more economical for student life. A few times a week, they used to visit the Gurudwara; not because they were religious, – half of them were not even Sikhs, – only for the free food from the ‘langar’

It was the final year. He was feeling more comfy in the city that was once very alien to him. He started to hang out with his white class mates… more and more. He adapted in the foreign country in that way and came closer to a Christian girl ‘Jenny’ as she was spiritual or moreover she expressed her desire to visit India. His school ended; he had finally graduated.

“My starting salary is $7K a month,” he wrote his dad in an email, “there is a one month break before my job starts; I will be coming home next Sunday. I have so much to share with you! “

Next morning, he had an email reply from his dad – written by his sister, Meenu, on behalf of his father, “This is very good news. Everybody is very excited… your job is very timely and God-sent. Shinda, our next door neighbor, is selling his land; we should buy it, now that we can afford it….” It went on, “Also, your Surinder uncle’s daughter – Simar – has just finished M.C.A, they have been asking about you. Your mom really likes her…..”

He sat there looking at the email. Not reading it again, just staring at it. It felt like someone just threw a bucket-full of cold water on him.

Finally he decided not to visit India felt like being looted by his own relations as he was the only money making machine and his emotions didn’t have importance.

This is the real picture of NRIs who wanted to return to their home, their own motherland.

In India, NRIs are often envied for their amenity and the moneys. They are well renowned for their abysmal pockets. There is no argument that most of the NRIs are well-thought-out prosperous among Indian society, irrespective of the question that how they make their

living in abroad. This is a substantial dilemma for a big number of NRI persons – to stick to the adopted home abroad or go back to India. It is a hard decision – to make a choice between the native country due to their personal nostalgia and cultural roots, or the place that make available the present comfort and livelihood.

Many other sociological concerns are there.

There are lots of Indian doctors and engineers, and they are good ones too who migrated to foreign land. They make a good salary; many have all the comforts of life. Here we are talking about doctors and engineers. The Situation is worse for those who make their living by driving taxies or doing other ordinary jobs.

So what is the factual situation for NRIs? The fact is unlike everyone looking up to them in India, they are often looked down in the land abroad. Even though multi-race society in abroad seems to mingle well at work and in many of the social situations, the cultural biases can be seen and encountered on a daily basis.

If you think about it, the NRIs, especially the first generation NRIs, sacrifice a lot to succeed in the foreign country, including their pride, social stature and their social identity. Over time, the NRIs often lose their language; their own way of life is compromised and they end up adapting to the foreign life-style. When we first go abroad, we all make a self-promise to return home, and yet rarely keep the promise.

Some Issues are like:

1. When they return to India, they are humiliated by custom officers at airports. Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) had dealt with an event related to Ahmedabad custom officers deployed at the airport, in which custom officers allegedly harassed an NRI lady to get bribe money.

Case: According to sources, on May 24, 2009, an NRI lady laded at Ahmedabad international airport where custom officers checked her bag and found digital cameras and other electronic items. Almost seven custom officers formed a group to check lady’s luggage for an hour and allegedly showed intention to get some bribe to clear the baggage. However the lady was firm in her attitude, as all the luggage was legal. The lady then after complained CVC in writing. This resulted in CVC probe in which at least seven officers are believed to have raided custom officers at the airport. CVC officers have also sought video footage of May 24 night to 25th morning from CCTV camera on airport.

Many other instances are there.

2. Many times the tenants snatch the property of NRI .But now there is change in the scene. Now eviction of property owned by NRI after a period of time is legal.

Case: In a case related to the eviction of property in the Punjab and Haryana High Court in Chandigarh on March 8, 2010, Honourable Justice S D Anand said that Rattan Singh, a Non-Resident Indian is entitled to get the tenanted premises from the petitioner-tenant Parshotam Lal. Lal tried to resist the plea on the ground that there is no relationship of the landlord (Singh) and him as he had obtained the premises on rent (not from Singh) but from one Ms. Swaran Kaur, to whom, he says, regularly pays the rent (Rs. 300 per month). The court also said that there is ample documentation in favour of Singh stating that he is the owner of the disputed premises as well as the fact that he is an NRI.

3. Other sociological issues include some illegal immigrants of India who dreamt a prosperous life but they are compelled to sleep under the bridge with the fistful charity thrown over them. Recently in Daily mail of UK on 25th February 2012, there was news headed as:

Slum dog Flyover: With lorries thundering past only feet away, squalid camp of the homeless, hopeless migrants whose dream of a new life went sour.

This is Little Punjab, a squalid community of illegal immigrants, the homeless, the jobless and the hopeless. They call them the Bridge Men of Heston, a community sleeping rough beneath a motorway flyover.

More than 30 of them can often be found here, in full view of pedestrians and traffic on the road that passes under the bridge, and less than 20 yards from the nearest houses.

It’s a breathtaking snapshot of what happens when dreams of forging a better life in Britain turn sour. But perhaps more remarkable is the fact that many of those in Little Punjab have been here for nearly two years, without being compelled to leave, and relying mostly on charity and goodwill to stay. It is also known as Britain’s Little India.

The reporter asked in this news that

'If they are here legally, help them. If they are not, then help them get back.'

Suggestions:

For some monetary gains, for a dream of prosperity and better life, most of the NRIs have lost a lot, many have sacrificed too much. The sad part – most of us don’t even realize it, don’t even think about it.

I am of the view that when we talk about the legal consequences regarding NRIs, there should be separate courts of law where the procedures should be diminutive so that the perception regarding the Indian law in the eyes of NRIs remains reverential.

There should be appropriate check on the agents who make the youth of India dream for the foreign life, which could be unfortunately turn into a curse.

Youth of India should be made aware of the opportunities of their career which could be availed in India, in their own native place.

In the End I must say that NRIs are the assets to our country, we should welcome them with open heart if they want to get back to their roots.