THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 9 July 2020 End of a dream(Indian Express)

End of a dream(Indian Express)

Mains Paper 2:International 
Prelims level: Ex-pat quota bill
Mains level: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora

Context:  

  • Kuwait’s move to reduce the share of expatriates in its workforce has deepened the spectre of an exodus of Indians from the Gulf. 
  • A draft Bill in the National Assembly has proposed that the percentage of Indian citizens in Kuwait should not exceed 15% of its population — nearly 8 lakh Indians may have to leave Kuwait.

Continuing trend:

  • The possibility of a migrant exodus from West Asia is not new. 
  • Many countries in the Gulf region have been trying to replace expats in their workforce with locals. 
  • Saudi Arabia launched nitaqat — a Saudisation scheme which introduced quotas in the workforce — in 2011. 
  • Recently, Oman had proposed a phased reduction of expats in its workforce. 
  • Expat workers flocked to Gulf countries to build and run those economies following the oil boom in the 1960s and ’70s. 
  • They were welcomed mainly because the local population lacked the necessary skills, or the will, to meet the needs of the new economy. 
  • The Subcontinent was a major beneficiary of this economic boom as it exported both skilled and unskilled workers. 

Kerala’s relation with the Gulf:

  • Kerala, for instance, built on its historic relations with the region to plug in to the Gulf economy. 
  • Remittances from the Gulf boosted the Kerala economy, even funding its welfare net, while also helping to check unemployment in the state. 
  • There are many pockets in India that have benefited similarly from the Gulf economy. 
  • Even before the pandemic, two main factors seemed to be driving a change in this symbiotic relationship that has lasted nearly five decades and benefited both regions. 

Factors behind the change:

  • One, the national economies in the Gulf are slowing down, forcing companies to lay off people. 
  • Two, these countries now host a large indigenous population in the working-age segment that needs jobs. 
  • With no economic revival in sight, these nations may have to reduce dependency on expat workers and enforce quotas in the private sector to provide jobs to local youths.
  • Nationalisation of the workforce is an ambitious project. 
  • It is doubtful if the emirates, with small populations and even smaller pools of skilled workers, can keep the largely consumption-driven economies afloat without expat workers. 
  • Saudi Arabia’s experience is instructive. 

Domestic pressure:

  • However, states such as Kerala are gearing to address the influx of migrant workers from the Gulf. 
  • Last week, it announced Dream Kerala, a project to support the returning workers, to augment the existing welfare measures for NRIs. 
  • Over 1.5 lakh people have returned from the Gulf countries after the outbreak of COVID-19, of which close to 70,000 have lost jobs. 

Conclusion:

Prelims Questions:

Q.1). With reference to the Prerak Dauur Samman, consider the following statements:

1. It is part of Swachh Survekshan-2021, the sixth edition of the annual cleanliness survey of urban India conducted by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
2. The Prerak Dauur Samman has a total of five additional sub- categories -Divya (Platinum), Anupam (Gold), Ujjwal (Silver), Udit (Bronze), Aarohi (Aspiring) - with top three cities being recognized in each. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Mains Questions:

Q.1). What do you mean by ex-pat quota bill? How will it impact Indians?

 

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