EU grant to Mumbai Univ for research on diaspora, migration

Updated on: Tuesday, June 14, 2011

European Union has sanctioned a grant of Rs 3.5 crore to the University of Mumbai to enable it to conduct an study on matters of diaspora and migration under a four-year-long international project.

The fund will be used for the study of `Diaspora and Migration', under the Marie Curie Initial Training Network (ITNCoHab) project, Rajpal Hande, Director, Board of College and University Development (BCUD) said.

"The Marie Curie Initial Training Network is carrying on such research under the auspices of the European Union. Now along with the Muenster University of Germany, Oxford University, Stockholm University and the London School of African and Oriental Studies, the University of Mumbai is also joining in," Hande said.

Due to the migrations of huge populations all over the world, concepts such as `home' and `belonging' have become exception rather than a rule, he said.

"This has led to dramatic changes and challenges before the cultural, social and political fields. The study of diaspora and migration has, therefore, evolved into a burgeoning field of research with an urgent practical relevance," he said.

According to a report of the Geneva-based 'World Organisation for Migration', the total population of migrants in the world in year 2000 was 15 crore, which rose to a 21.40 crore by 2011.

"This means that a population equivalent to that of a small country is living a migrant's life," he said.

EU grant to Mumbai Univ for research on diaspora, migration

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