Indians Professionals Abroad : Can they empower India ?
Recently, China appointed Yi Gang, a former Indiana University professor, as the head of an institution which manages the country's vast foreign exchange reserves. The appointment of expatriate Chinese experts is a part of a new initiative called "Thousand Person Plan" which seeks to lure Chinese experts under the age of 55 with doctorates from foreign universities. If they work in state companies, educational institutions or businesses, they are given handsome pay and perks.
China is trying lure back its bright and creative professionals from its Diaspora with a red-carpet to help it join the ranks of the developed countries within a decade or so. The 'sea turtles', as these returning expatriates are called in China, are likely to make China a technological society to rival USA.
Can the Indian government think of similar plan to entice experts in the Indian Diaspora back to India ? India has notched up their economic growth after economic liberalization and it did it long after China did. By inviting experts in various fields from abroad, India too would be able reap rich dividend in terms of knowledge pool. If some in the academic field are brought back to our universities, Indian students who seek education abroad would be able to access it India itself saving billions of dollars for the country. If India embarks on a large-scale infrastructure projects ( roads, railways, airways, port and air-ports ) and encourages private sector to expand in all manufacturing ( including defense) industries, there would be no problem in finding good jobs for engineers, software experts, management and financial professionals.
According to the National Knowledge Commission, 160,000 students go abroad every year, especially to USA ( 104,000),UK ( 97,035) and Australia (25,905). A survey by Assocham ( The Associated Chambers of Commerce) estimated in 2008 that these students spend about $10/13 billion every year in fees and living expenses. The students go abroad not merely to study but also to secure jobs in these countries as they do not find suitable opportunities in India. The time has come for India to liberalise the educational field as well. The private sector too should be involved in the establishment of autonomous schools, colleges and universities to meet growing need and demand for education. Expansion of educational sector would itself provide jobs for about 10 to 20 million, says Assocham survey.
Since the National Knowledge Commission has identified the need to increase the number universities to 1,500, the government can establish a few universities headed by the expatriate professors who can bring skills, knowledge, and academic network which can make these universities among the top in the world in a few years. These universities should be funded adequately and invested with autonomy that is enjoyed by the universities abroad. Indian businessmen, NRI technocrats and philanthropists should be encouraged to fund colleges and chairs in these universities. An educational revolution has to take place in India to reap the demographic dividend from young Indian population.
Economic liberalization has opened many new avenues for expatriates both in China and India. Many Chinese and Indian professionals are returning to their countries. "It is a fast growing trend", says Vivek Wadhwa, a researcher who has done a survey on the subject for Kauffman Foundation of USA. " My prediction is," Wadhwa adds, " that 100,000 skilled workers will return, both to India and to China, over the next five years or so. I call this reverse brain drain."
Though recession has slowed down India's economy, it is projected to be about 7 percent annually till 2025. It is expected that the urban middle class would grow to be some 384 million, a population larger than that of USA.
Already a small stream of skilled people has started to go back to India. India Abroad, a weekly magazine, published from New York and other cities of USA, has profiles of a dozen people who have chosen to go back to India under the title, "Return of the Native"(July 31,209). "They are 35 years of age, they are highly educated, the majority of them have Master's and PhDs, all of them have been successful here and they are doing better back home" finds Wadhwa.
However, their experience has not been very positive and so their plans are tentative. Their views says it all : " In India for now" ; " Back to stay but you should feel the US is within reach"; " I am going to definitely push myself as hard as I can"; " Settled in India "; " We really are not happy here"; " We want to live in Japan and Germany next" ; " Moved back to US in 2009". Only one is happy to be back in India, two have returned and the others want to keep the option of going back to USA. However, the expatriates who have gone back to South Africa and China are more positive : " I'm just having the time of my life"and " more diverse, tolerant, transparent and materially more abundant compared to what I remembered".
Indian authorities have to figure it out why NRI's are less positive than the others from China and South Africa. Of course, Indians missed Scharfen Berger chocolates, olive oil, bagels, cheap beer, peace and quiet, the greenness, the empty streets, work culture, libraries, kid-oriented stuff, lack of change ( same shanties, same sewage) etc. Most of hese things can be changed by the concerned citizens and the expatriates together by taking part in civic affairs.
It is not all bleak scenario.There is some appreciation for things Indian as well : " Being with the family"; " kids schooling is great" ; " Delhi is an amazing city .. It's evolving before our eyes"; " I am much more comfortable than in the US." etc.
A Chinese expatriate who returned to China told the Financial Times columnist, Michael Skapinker, " China has changed a lot, from infrastructure to people's thinking to the government's approach to managing the country". What made her return ? Work opportunities, family, patriotism ? " It is rather more complex than just three factors," she says. There were aging parents, a longing for "country, culture, friends and food" and the feeling that " America had never been the same" since the attacks of September 11,2001.
The NRIs do not have the same opinion about Indian economic and political development The Indian political establishment – the government all levels, political parties, bureaucracy, NGOs – should work together to improve our civic life and make our cities and towns livable. Only this can lure our Diaspora back to India to empower the country. Work opportunities, family and patriotism are not enough.
August 11,2009.
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