New Zealand more popular than Australia

Immigration can be a win-win
Sunday, November 06, 2005 21:34 IST




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Immigration is once again in the news. Countries across the globe are opening their doors to foreigners. The Canadian foreign minister last week announced that the country will welcome up to 300,000 new skilled immigrants, up from the earlier quote of 250,000. Tiny New Zealand is emerging as a leading destination for migrants while bigger neighbour Australia remains a perennial favourite of qualified professionals from India and other countries who want so start a new life.

Besides immigration, Indians are also going overseas for work in ever larger numbers. The United States has recently allowed more H1B visas. Indian doctors and nurses are found in places as diverse as Georgia to the United Kingdom. Recently, South Africa too started seeking skilled workers from India. A have-degree-will-travel kind of professional is emerging in India and is moving around the world. This is different from the earlier blue labour job-seeker who worked overseas.

A total of 150,000 or so people, including children, leave India every year as migrants. Given India’s population of over 1 billion, this is an insignificant number. But many of those who leave to seek out better prospects are a loss to India, especially those who chuck up a decent career. This is the original “brain-drain” that the country has seen for decades.