The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has in the past forged two meaningful partnerships for research with the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi and the Centre for Development Studies (CDS) in Thiruvananthapuram. Both aim to promote research in international migration.

Memorandum of Agreement with JNU
Signed in July 2007, the agreement with the Zakir Husain Centre for Educational Studies, School of Social Sciences, JNU, envisaged setting up a research that is supported by a multi-disciplinary faculty. The total cost of establishing and running the research programme for a five year period was put down at Rs 410.60 lakh of which the MOIA’s share would be Rs 270.60 lakh. 

Activities undertaken:
· Networking with other research centres on international migration and Diaspora research from around the world, and prioritizing of research agenda / identification of preferred researchable projects / data generation-cum-collection.

· Workshop on Adversary Analysis leading to designing of strategies to enter into equitable bilateral / multilateral agreements / social security agreements / memorandum of understanding with other Government and Governmental agencies for the purpose of optimizing the economic interest of the nation and the welfare of overseas Indian workers, professionals, and students.

· Course preparations for the launching of training module in the third year.

· Analysis of international migration trends of Indian migrants and recommending the important elements of a country strategy / policy framework for determining India’s position in this field.

· Identification of cultural, psycho-social, historical aspects of Indian communities and diasporic associations abroad, and their interactions with homeland for mutual development.

· Identification of measurable economic aspects of migration (such as remittances, foreign direct investment) and preparing region-wise analysis of the emerging global labour markets, and associated wage, pension, and social security conditions.

· Exploring skill upgradation and certification strategies to help India streamline its flow of emigrant workers and moving them up the wage chain.

· Explore directions for diaspora knowledge network (DKN) and brainstorming practical programmes for capitalizing on the potential benefits from DKN.

· Preparing policy briefs, working paper on different aspects of Indian diaspora in a global, transnational and comparative perspective, including the impact of the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) vis-à-vis Dual Citizenship practices in other sending countries of the world.

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi

Centre for Development Studies (CDS) in Thiruvananthapuram

Memorandum of Agreement with CDS
Signed in June 2006, it was decided to set up a research unit at CDS on grant of financial assistance by the MOIA. It would be supported by a group of multi-disciplinary faculty. The agreement would be in operation for five years. The total cost of establishing and running the research unit for 5 years was put down at Rs 219.65 lakh of which the MOIA’s financial assistance would be Rs. 146.75 lakh.

Activities undertaken:
· Analysis of the issues raised and the recommendations made by the Global Commission on International Migration and recommending a coherent international migration policy framework / country strategy for India over the medium to long term.

· Analysis of the role of the IOM and other UN agencies on the subject of International Migration and recommending a country strategy / policy framework for furthering India’s objectives / engagement with the IOM and other multi-lateral organizations.

· Preparing country briefs on major labour importing countries including a study of their labour laws, working conditions, problems of emigrant workers and suggesting issues that need to be addressed in bilateral agreements.

· Country-wise analysis of the emerging opportunities for new jobs in various sectors and suggest skill upgradation strategies to help India position itself as an exporter of highly skilled manpower and help emigrant workers move up the wage chain.

· State-wise analysis of the major sourcing states of the nature and type of emigration and suggest strategies to help the states make this an orderly process and open opportunities for its potential overseas workers.

· Analysis of Emigration Clearance Required (ECR) maintained in the offices of the eight Protectors of Emigrants in the Country.

· Preparation of manual to conduct one-day pre-departure training.

· Visit to the Philippines to examine their pre-departure training.

· Conduct one model pre-departure training programme with the help of Protector of Emigrants.

· Initiating a pilot study on replacement migration.

· One-week training for the prospective researchers who would like to conduct study on migration (doctoral students and researchers) at the CDS.

· Initiate a study on Dynamics of Migration in Tamil Nadu with collaboration from Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai.

· Initiate a study on Dynamics of Migration in Andhra Pradesh with collaboration from Centre for Economic and Social Studies, Hyderabad. 

· Pilot Research on Recruitment Agencies in India.


Box 1: Signed in July 2007, the agreement with the Zakir Husain Centre for Educational Studies, School of Social Sciences, JNU, envisaged setting up a research that is supported by a multi-disciplinary faculty

Box 2: Signed in June 2006, it was decided to set up a research unit at CDS on grant of financial assistance by the MOIA. It would be supported by a group of multi-disciplinary faculty

October 2010