India needs a clear refugee policy based on international principles

Source: TOI

What is the news?

Afghanistan is moving towards a Taliban-induced refugee crisis. Major countries are advising citizens to leave. GoI has asked all Indian firms operating in Afghanistan to immediately withdraw their Indian employees. Should Afghanistan descend into civil war, New Delhi won’t be able to shy away from taking a call on accepting Afghan refugees.

India’s efforts 

India has hosted lakhs of refugees in its 74-year history.

• Tibetan refugees fleeing persecution in communist China – said to number 73,404 in India in 2019
• 59,506 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees staying in 108 camps in Tamil Nadu and Odisha to
• Hosting an estimated 10 million East Pakistani refugees during Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War.

Must Read: India’s refugee problem – Explained

India’s refugee policy

India doesn’t have a refugee policy.

• It is neither party to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, nor does it have a domestic refugee law.
• India has largely stuck, in practice, to the principle of non-refoulement.

Way forward

Each country has a certain capacity to absorb refugees. But that should be determined through guidelines, principles and data. Besides, if India sees itself as a middle power with deep interests in the South Asian region, it has to deal with the refugee issue as a responsible nation. Having a domestic refugee law will be a start.

Terms to know:

• Non-refoulement principle