South's share in emigrants going up

Till a few years ago, people from north India made up the lion's share of emigrants to Western Europe and North America. But the tide seems to have turned.

"North Indians are making it in proportionately lesser numbers and south Indians are making it in larger numbers," said Lt Col B S Sandhu, CMD, World Wide Immigration Consultancy Services (WWICS).

The reason for the change is the insistence of the host nations on immigrants with a grounding in English and those who are well qualified, adds Sandhu.

WWICS, which claims to be the largest immigration consultancy service provider in India, is now looking beyond India for clients and spreading its services to East African countries and the Caribbeans.

The need to create jobs also ensures that the host countries encourage immigration of businessmen and entrepreneurs. The hopes of finding a qualitatively better life seems to be driving immigration in the last group.

For countries like Canada recording a birth rate that is below the replacement rate, the only way to keep the economy growing seems to be through allowing immigration. With no dearth of people in developing nations keen on moving abroad in search of greener pastures, it is not difficult for some countries to attract immigrants.

The biggest draw are Canada, Australia and New Zealand (post 9/11, the US is extremely difficult to reach).

From October 1993 till date, WWICS claims to have helped over 30,000 to emigrate to countries like Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and US. Now, it is mostly to Canada. But Canada lately has been insisting on a minimum qualification. It has also developed a point system which makes immigration tougher. It now sees immigration as a means for supply of professionals and skilled labour.

"Joe Volpe, Canada's minister of citizenship and immigration, relaxed the immigration norms. This helped many a potential emigrant secure easy entry into Canada," said Sandhu.

"We give guidance on the right way and legitimate means to help potential emigrants to emigrate with minimum hurdles," said Sandhu.

WWICS gives the necessary training to help the wannabe emigrants qualify for immigration. WWICS saw revenues of Rs 11.28 crore in 2003-04, the same level as in the previous year.