Remittance inflow fell in 11 months of the current fiscal year mainly because a large number of migrants switched to informal channels like hundi from formal ones for sending money, say experts.

Till the end of May our inbound remittance totaled $19.19 billion, $3.6 billion dollar less than that last year. With the current downward trend, in an optimistic estimate, we can eye a near $21 billion by the end of the financial year which would be 15 per cent less on a year-on-year basis. But based on this figure alone will it be justified to arrive at a decision that the magic of remittance have waned, we have run out of means to fill the increasing trade gaps, and are quickly embracing a bleak financial future? Before siding with a yes or a no let us revisit the trend of remittance flow.