| Increasing mobility is not a new phenomenon. The | | | | and more protectionist tendencies are the root |
| process which started slowly with the developments | | | | causes. Even a few developed countries are prone to |
| in the fields of science and technology gradually | | | | protectionist tendencies and intolerant towards the |
| evolved into lightning speed around the world. It had | | | | immigrants. |
| its repercussions both - good and bad. Alvin Toffler | | | | |
| had conducted a detailed study on increasing mobility | | | | Nicholas Sarkozy, French President, was the Interior |
| and shared the information with the readers in his | | | | Minister under the regime of Jacques Chirac, before |
| widely acclaimed book “The Future Shock”. | | | | becoming President. Sarkozy was a pain in the neck |
| | | | | of Chirac for his xenophobic policies. Jacques Chirac |
| Increasing mobility and migration are interdependent. | | | | favoured Dominique De Villipine, the former Prime |
| No one is going to disagree with this truth. | | | | Minister according to the media reports to be his |
| Immigration- its positive and negative aspects- has | | | | successor. Sarkozy could swing the mandate to his |
| become a subject for study and research at the | | | | side, for he adopted a more protectionist policy and |
| international level. | | | | it had many takers then. The infamous racist attacks, |
| | | | | the widely condemned electrocution of two African |
| The other day there was a news item in ‘The | | | | teenagers and his reported justification for the |
| Hindu’ by the noted journalist and correspondent | | | | suppression of racist violence consequent upon it, his |
| Vidya Subramaniam on Human Development Reports | | | | intolerance towards burqa-clad muslim women, even |
| (HDR) released simultaneously across the world by | | | | Sikhs sporting turbans following their religious beliefs |
| Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission: Montek Singh | | | | during that period and even after that, was widely |
| Ahluwalia and United Nations Co-ordinator Patrice | | | | condemned. Anyhow the highest position of |
| Coeur Bizot : Overcoming Barriers: Human mobility and | | | | President later somewhat made him show more |
| development and the salutary effects of migration | | | | maturity and he even played the role of a master |
| between countries- from developing countries to | | | | diplomat in arriving at an amicable solution to the war |
| developed countries, developing countries to other | | | | between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia, |
| developing countries and migration within countries | | | | thus averting a catastrophe which would have |
| and the enormous potential, social, financial and | | | | reached an unimaginable dimension with USA |
| cultural brought about by the latter. The report is | | | | intervening under the belligerent George Bush, the |
| based on statistics and on going through it a citizen | | | | then President. Xenophobia still stares in the face of |
| has much to feel cheerful about it. The report also | | | | immigrants though. Economic recession across the |
| mentions about certain areas of a country which are | | | | world has a damaging contribution to this nagging |
| left behind in the field of education resulting in the | | | | problem. |
| reluctance of the inhabitants of these areas to | | | | |
| emigrate to other parts of the country or to other | | | | Xenophobia and protectionist tendencies to a large |
| countries. A country like India, where lack of | | | | extent are prevalent in various corners of the world. |
| adequate education facilities even 62 years after | | | | Not only between countries but even in a particular |
| Independence has a lot to be ashamed of. | | | | country itself. |
| | | | | |
| While feeling happy and elated about the positive | | | | Take for example our own “Incredible |
| aspects migration brings about in the world, we feel | | | | Nation”. The financial capital of India, |
| equally sad on going through news reports emanating | | | | “Mumbai” (sorry, not Bombay) is a glaring |
| from different countries on a regular basis - the | | | | example of the “Sons of the soil”. The |
| harassment, hardships and torture the immigrants | | | | emigrants from the States of UttarPradesh, Bihar, |
| suffer at the hands of the citizens of a particular | | | | Orissa always live in perpetual fear of the “policy |
| country. The “Sons of the soil” policy and | | | | holders”, the “Marathi mannoos”. About a |
| racist attacks escalate on a daily basis. Right below | | | | year ago, the North Indian inhabitants were brutally |
| the news report on emigration, with a feeling of | | | | attacked, robbed of their belongings, their properties |
| sadness I came across a news item on the racist | | | | destroyed and forced them to flee to their States. |
| attacks by Australians against the Indians who live | | | | Some even succumbed to injuries on being badly |
| and lead peaceful lives working as cabbies, | | | | mauled. Poor men, women and children leaving their |
| bartendenders, such menial jobs and the students for | | | | beloveds in their respective native States catch trains |
| the purpose of higher studies and dreaming of a | | | | and after three or four days of ardous train journeys |
| bright future. These attacks on Indians even after | | | | reach the city not for leading a pompous life but for |
| government’s strong protests and despite | | | | earning something to have atleast a square meal per |
| Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s assurances | | | | day. They don’t stay in flats, bungalows or |
| to the Government of India on adopting a zero | | | | five-star hotels but in slums, chawls and railway |
| tolerance towards the attackers continue unabated. | | | | platforms. Mumbai is nobody’s monopoly. It is a |
| Recently Juliet Gillard, the Education Minister of | | | | part of our nation and it should remain as such. |
| Australia on her visit to India also gave an assurance | | | | |
| on these lines. All in vain. Now it is learnt that the | | | | 1. I do not know whether the HDR (Human |
| Indian immigrants having lost their patience have | | | | Development Reports) took into account while |
| started to hit back in the same coin. As somebody | | | | preparing it with the deserving significance. Anyhow |
| put it, “A confident resistance will make a thug | | | | as long as immigration remains a smooth affair and |
| flee”. | | | | mobility undisturbed, happy days are here to stay. |
| | | | | Otherwise get doomed. |
| Xenophobia has become a bane across world. More | | | | |