Born and raised in Mumbai, India with an undergrad degree from Oman and a masters degree from the National University of Singapore. I am an Environmental Professional with a passion for Sustainability, Social Innovation and Governance related issues. A Change Agent in the making who believes that small is beautiful and that impact can be achieved -one soul at a time.
I have a tentative reading list in the making for ‘fresh of the boat’ technical experts and investors who are keen to partner in a post carbon Khaleej. The Airport Bookshop is not representative at all. Gulf is not an ATM, it has thaqafat and tarikh, or culture & history.
The context differs every few kilometres, the dialect of Arabic and Modern Southern Arabian Languages Group Languages and the traditional professions Infrastructure is not built on cultural white space. Engineers, Urban Planners and Architects need to understand the background ‘code’.
I have always been kiasu, paranoid to fail and a determined vitae building machine since my high school days. The elusive fear of success, drives me to think that I am worthless and link my sense of self worth to what I do. 2020 has given me a new lens of worth that I can be worthy as I can create projects and initiatives digitally on my own with the help of kind souls who share a common vision.
One does not have to be necessarily affiliated with a brand to create value. One can be a brand themselves in this remote era. The gig economy has created an economy of contractors and a different mindset is needed to succeed. My journey has been turbulent this year but the clarity can be very peaceful.
Aatma Nirbhar or self reliance , is a frame of mind rather than a political slogan.
Day Two of the Global Migration and Development Forum 2021 Dubai Indian Strategic Stakeholder Consultations with speakers such as Prof Ginu Zach and Mehru ji along with representatives from IOM, ILO, Non Profits such as India Migration Now and Community Representatives such as Oman. Glad to join in.
Amazing work by CIMS Kerala Team Parvathy Devi , Rafeek ji and Akhil.
There were important threads regarding migration especially data paucity, subversion of rules by workers such as under reporting of age by domestic workers, the weak nature of bilateral MoUs with destination countries.
I really liked what Mehru ji, a senior migrant rights activist from Bahrain said regarding migrant workers, when a migrant worker goes to the Gulf, the expectations of the family financially goes with him.
The ATM Mentality of the families are critical in the paucity of bargaining prowess of the worker. The migration debt shackles the worker as well.
Migration academics, ground level community worker in the diaspora (can the Khaleej be called that ?) and businesses have to work closely with the state moving beyond the white paper, which no one reads.
Took part in the Day 1 of Indian Strategic Public Consultations for Global Migration and Development Forum 2021 Dubai next month today with the CIMS Kerala facilitating the dialogue between stakeholders from IOM to skills development non profits to digital channels for migrant voices.
Change Thinker 