A.K. Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, today launched the book 'India-EU People Mobility
The book provides an overview of the trends and characteristics of people mobility between the two regions, regulatory and other constraints, the impact and contribution made by these flows on both sides and the associated sensitivities and concerns.
On the occasion, a discussion session was organized by FICCI in association with Cambridge University Press to underscore the need for a mutually beneficial policy framework, one which benefits India from the development perspective and the EU from an employment perspective.
In his keynote address, Agarwal said that the book would be a great help to address the issues related to mobility and migration of human resource and added that there is a need to research more in this area to reach at a consensus which would benefit both India and the EU.
Speaking on the issue of social security for migrants, he said that India already has in place social security agreement with many EU nations and some other are in the offing and added that the need was to operationalize these agreements in right earnest.
Maurizio Cellini, First Counsellor and Head of Trade and Economic Affairs, Delegation of the European Union to India, in his special address said that the EU attaches great importance to mobility and migration andadvocates a framework which safeguards migrant rights as well as addresses economic and social concerns of receiving countries and realization of the numerous potential development benefits.
He added that a well-managed migration policy and regulatory framework is bound to lead to economic and social growth of India and the EU.
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Giving an overview of the book, Dr. Rupa Chanda, Co-editor of the book and Professor of Economics, IIM Bangalore, said that the book focuses on the relationship between India and the EU and the need for policy and regulatory intervention to enhance mobility of people.
She added that the book also features chapters on Diaspora, Sectoral Migration and Student Mobility, which brings to light the various hurdles that hamper mobility of people.
Dr. A Didar Singh, Secretary General, FICCI, who also contributed to the book by way of a chapter on Diaspora, said that demography and mobility are interlinked in today's globalized world.
He added that the government has introduced a scheme for skill development for overseas employment known as the 'Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana'. Also, 'Global Alliance on Talent, Entrepreneurship and Skills (GA-TES)' has been initiated by FICCI's International Migration and Diaspora Division which aims to bring together select industry bodies from across the world to represent important geographies that currently share demographic and economic growth challenges - declining workforce, skills shortages, low productivity, low demand - and can benefit significantly from the mobility of talent, the portability of skills and entrepreneurial collaboration.
Ratnesh Kumar Jha, Managing Director, Cambridge University Press, India, said, "India is opening up fresh avenues for increased EU-India synergies which go beyond the 'trade agenda'.
"Both sides have much to gain from deepening their relationships. The book has many insightful facts on mobility, its associated challenges and ways to facilitate it, which would definitely benefit professionals as well as various sectoral stakeholders. As a high quality publisher, our aim is to strengthen this bond through our research and content alongside analysing the scope of continued progress," he added.
Preeti Hingorani, Head Brand and PR, Cambridge University Press, India, said that the book is a first in its genre as people mobility has never been written and discussed about in such depth. The book's final outcome came only after meticulous deliberations with stakeholders', interviews with migrants and government officials and supported by primary research.
She added that the book could prove to be a helpful tool for making useful policy decisions and while negotiating broad-based trade and investment agreements between India and the EU.
Also, on the dais was Silvia Costantini, First Counsellor, Political Affairs, Delegation of the European Union to India.