Refugee Rights in India

A national survey of refugee communities’ access to education, healthcare and livelihoods

ActionAid Association, with the support of the National Human Rights Commission. While India has a long history of offering refuge, for many communities today, access to education, healthcare, and livelihoods remains a daily struggle. This report documents the conditions, challenges, and aspirations of refugee communities across India, drawing on a large survey conducted in 10 states. India has historically offered refuge to diverse groups—Tibetans, Sri Lankan Tamils, Afghans, Rohingya, Chin, Chakma, Hajong, Hindus and Sikhs from Pakistan, and African nationals. Despite this long tradition of hospitality, the absence of a formal refugee law leaves most groups without a consistent framework of rights and protections. The survey findings reveal wide disparities in access to essential services. Housing remains precarious, with many refugees living in rented or makeshift shelters lacking adequate sanitation, water supply, or electricity. Education access is uneven: while Tibetan and Tamil refugees benefit from structured state and civil society support, newer groups such as Rohingya and Afghan refugees face enrolment barriers, language gaps, and discrimination. Healthcare access is constrained by undocumented status, lack of awareness, and financial obstacles, though maternal care and COVID-19 vaccination saw some outreach efforts. Livelihood opportunities are scarce, with refugees concentrated in informal, low-paid work, vulnerable to exploitation, and lacking access to social security entitlements. Legal precarity compounds these challenges. Many refugees struggle to obtain or renew essential documents, exposing them to harassment and excluding them from state welfare schemes. While some groups (Tibetans, Sri Lankan Tamils) have enjoyed recognition and support, others depend largely on UNHCR or community networks. Social integration varies: though some refugee groups maintain cordial relations with host communities, others experience stigma and hostility. The report concludes that refugee well-being requires stronger legal and policy frameworks, recognition of refugee status, and proactive measures to ensure equitable access to education, healthcare, housing, and livelihoods. It recommends establishing a Central Refugee Agency to coordinate policy, draft a model refugee law, and strengthen grievance redressal, participation, and integration mechanisms.

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