A Study on Socio-Economic Impact of Remittances on Forward Migrants Households of Tibetan Refugees in India

Due to the invasion and occupation of Tibet by China, the first wave of Tibetan refugees seeking asylum came to India and neighbouring countries like Bhutan and Nepal in 1959. At the time, India, Nepal and Bhutan were economically and socially backward countries. India opened up its economy in the 1990’s and it paved the way for socio-economic development of the country. Tibetan migrants were also able to use this opportunity for their own growth and economic development. The rise in awareness levels helped Tibetan migrants realize that they could further advance their individual and community growth by seeking job opportunities abroad. Thus, the first wave of migrants left for North America, Canada and European countries in early 1990’s and they were able to send home remittances in dollars and pounds which fetched good exchange rate in India against the rupees. The flow of remittances from abroad enhanced the livelihood of Tibetan refugees in India and triggered a chain migration to the west.
In this study, it focuses on the aspect of remittance and development on Tibetan refugee who has been settled in India for more than 5 decades and relies on remittances. The details of the profile of Tibetan diaspora will be discussed in chapter 4.