South Asian Migration to Gulf Countries ─ History, policies, development

South Asians constitute the largest expatriate population in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Their contribution in the socio-economic, technological and educational development of GCC nations is immense. This book offers one of the first systematic analysis of South Asia–Gulf migration dynamics and its varied impact on countries such as India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It deals with public policy, socio-economic mobility, remittance policy, global financial crisis and labour issues. Bringing together essays from contributors from around the world, the volume reveals not only the multi-dimensionality of the migration process between the two regions, but also the diversity and the underlying unity of the South Asian countries.

This book will be invaluable to scholars and students of migration studies, development studies and sociology as well as policy-makers, administrators, academics, and non-governmental organisations in the field.

Prakash C. Jain is Senior Fellow, Indian Council of Social Science Research, and affiliated to the Centre for Comparative Politics & Political Theory, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

Ginu Zacharia Oommen is Senior Fellow, India Centre for Migration (ICM), New Delhi.