Page 54 - IJPS-10-4

International Journal of
Population Studies Opinions on Rohingya refugees in India

access to essential social services and humanitarian aid, Despite the gains described above, India did not offer
the situation on the ground remains dire. Given the dire the desired protections to the Rohingya community. Since
conditions they face, why did the Rohingya people choose the pro-Hindu BJP-led NDA government came to power
to seek refuge in India? As mentioned earlier, a significant in 2014, the political landscape has shifted, exacerbating
number of Rohingya individuals arrived in India from the situation for the Rohingya. Various laws and policies
Bangladesh, primarily through the northeastern borders have been implemented, particularly in the legal and social
of West Bengal, utilizing various means of transportation domains. One such policy, introduced by the Union Home
such as trains, cars, buses, and even on foot. In addition, Ministry in 2017, halted the renewal of LTV for Rohingya
some Rohingya refugees undertook perilous journeys by individuals (Kumar, 2018). In addition, the government
sea using boats. Many reported paying bribes to agents ordered the confiscation and cancellation of all Aadhaar
to cross international borders (Rajan, 2022). There were cards held by the Rohingya (Kumar, 2018). As a result, the
several push factors that compelled them to migrate from Rohingya have been severely disadvantaged, as the lack
Bangladesh to India. These factors included restricted of official identification documents has deprived them
access to essential services such as education and of access to healthcare, education, and financial services.
healthcare, limited opportunities for livelihood, insecurity, Their rights and documents have been stripped away by

poverty, and the relocation of Rohingya individuals to the host country, in this case, India, as well as previously
the cyclone-prone island of Bhasan Char (Chakraborty, by their home country, Myanmar (Rohingyas Temporary
2015). On the other hand, various pull factors attracted the Registration Cards, known as the “White Cards,” have
Rohingya to India, including employment opportunities, also been revoked in 2015 before the general elections,
peace, access to education and healthcare services, and the effectively disenfranchising them). Consequently, the
prospect of family reunification (Chakraborty, 2015). Rohingya community has been left with no choice but

According to scholars, the migration of Rohingya to participate in the informal market, where they are
individuals to India dates back to the late 1970s, but the vulnerable to exploitation. Furthermore, in 2017, the
numbers significantly increased after violence erupted government issued orders to identify and deport Rohingya
in Myanmar in 2012 (Chaudhury & Samaddar, 2018). individuals (South China Morning Post, 2018). This process
The UNHCR data reveal that in 2015, there were 18,257 led to a significant number of Rohingya people being
individuals from Myanmar, primarily Chin and Rohingya, arrested and charged with violating the Foreigners Act of
residing in India. By 2019, this number had risen to 20,973, 1946 or the Passports (Entry into India) Act of 1929 (Iqbal,
and by the end of 2022, it had reached 29,052 (UNHCR 2021). These exclusionary practices not only worsened
India). While Chin people had sought refuge in India since the situation but also instilled fear. As a result, over 1000
the 1970s, the majority of individuals from Myanmar who Rohingya individuals fled to Bangladesh to avoid arrest
arrived in India after 2000 were Rohingya. Following the and subsequent deportation (Abbas & Hemadri, 2022).
2017 massacre in Myanmar, a large number of Rohingya The exclusionary practices carried out by the Indian
fled to Bangladesh before eventually moving on to India. state toward the Rohingya community illustrate the
The Rohingya community, previously unseen, gained three main steps of the securitization of migration theory
visibility in India on April 9, 2012, when approximately proposed by the Copenhagen School. The first step
3000 Rohingya individuals, including men, women, and involves presenting the Rohingya as a threat to the Indian
children, staged a months-long protest in front of the people, while the second step focuses on convincing the
UNHCR office in Delhi. Their objective was to demand public of the existential danger they pose. Finally, the third
refugee status based on legal grounds (Perappadan, 2012). step involves legitimizing the implementation of drastic
At that time, they possessed “asylum seeker cards,” which measures by the Indian government (Topulli, 2016). Public
did not hold the same legal weight as official documents. attitudes toward refugees can be influenced by various
Their aim was to access the socioeconomic and legal factors. De Coninck (2019) highlights the significance of
support provided by UNHCR. Consequently, Rohingya ethnicity, the economic situation in the refugees’ country
individuals who applied and underwent the Refugee Status of origin, and the region they come from in shaping public
Determination process were granted refugee status and perceptions (De Coninck, 2019). Negative portrayals of
later received long-term visas (LTV) that required annual refugees, such as the belief that they threaten the cultural
renewal. These documents not only helped them to acquire fabric of the host country or impose an economic and
legal documents such as the Aadhaar card (a valid proof social burden, can lead to a shift in public opinion. The
of identity and address issued by the Unique Identification literature acknowledges the impact of framing on public
Authority of India) but also enabled them to access various perception, with theories such as social identity and group
socioeconomic benefits offered by the state. threat offering explanations. Political framing and media

Volume 10 Issue 4 (2024) 48 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.2174