Over 95% Indians support foreign aid efforts — and it seems like India has stood up to that expectation

• India has transformed from ‘recipient’ to a ‘donor’ of foreign aid over the last few years.
  
• A recent global public opinion survey by World Economic Forum (WEF) has shown that ver 95% of Indian population expecting their nation to help other countries.
  
• India has donated chunks under its foreign aid, with Bhutan receiving the most of it under the ‘neighbourhood first’ policy followed by Afghanistan — a distant second receiver.
  

With India emerging as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, it has transformed from ‘recipient’ to a ‘donor’ of foreign aid over the years. A recent global public opinion survey by World Economic Forum (WEF) has shown that Indians have emerged as the most optimistic towards international aid — with over 95% of Indian population expecting their nation to help other countries.

The WEF report that surveyed over 10,000 people noted that the South Asian countries — including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh tops the charts displaying highest levels of support for other countries.

On the other hand, other neighbours including Pakistan and Bangladesh land at 94% and 87%, respectively.

Overall, India has been the second largest donor country for international aids, according to Center of Global Development.

India has donated chunks under its foreign aid, with Bhutan receiving the most of it under the ‘neighbourhood first’ policy followed by Afghanistan — a distant second receiver. While Bhutan received over ₹37.14 billion donation from India’s foreign aid for the financial year 2017-2018, Afghanistan shared ₹3.5 billion international aid, reports India’s Ministry of External Affairs. In all, the country spent ₹64.7 billion in 2017-18, compared to ₹59.3 billion during the previous fiscal.

Two years ago, in order to strengthen global ties with countries including Vietnam, Myanmar among others, the country, in 2016, dedicated a ₹5 billion ‘Project Development Fund’ to strengthen economy.

According to the global survey, nearly 80% of people across the globe think that all countries benefit at the same time, and aid does not mean that the donor country loses out. Interestingly, 63% of participants from the US find that immigrants are ‘good’ for their country. That comes at a time when the US government has been tightening immigration laws in the country.

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