Until they come home...

New wave

There are plenty of students who go abroad for further studies once they finish their under-graduation. They make a place for themselves in an entirely new country and start a fresh chapter of their lives.

 However, many of these students come back to India after finishing their studies, developing their talent and honing their skills. Their experience and learning allows them to not only find good jobs in India but also build start-ups. Metrolife caught up with a few youngsters, who are doing well in their careers. They spoke about reverse brain drain and its pros and cons.   

New ideas needed 
Tarun, a beatboxer, “If people come back here, they have a better shot at jobs. New graduates, in turn, will have limited options and squabble for a higher pay.” To urge people to stay here, Tarun feels that companies should innovate on their work culture. “If companies try out new ideas, it would encourage students to continue. If someone is going there just to stay for a few years and come back, it is not worth the effort, time and energy. They might as well have done something useful here.” 

Giving back
Pratiksha, a second-year BCA student of CMRIMS, feels that reverse brain drain is a good trend. 

“Brain drain bolsters the growth of the individual and not the country. I think it’s important that people come back and give something to society, otherwise a lot of our talent would go unnoticed.” She also looks at the recent change in the government as a positive sign and hopes that it triggers a positive response. 

“People go abroad because of the better campus culture and quality education system there. I hope the new government invests in education and sets up quality institutes here.”

Spoilt for choice
Chitra Grace Marion, a second-year BBM student at CMRIMS, however, feels that brain drain isn’t particulary bad. “It boils down to personal choice ultimately and there is a multitude of options there. A student has the freedom to study settle where he or she wants. After all, it’s a matter of pride for our country if someone has got into a top institute abroad. A lot of people go there because there is dignity of labour and respect for all streams of education. It’s good that people go there, get identified and become more aware. The government should spend heavily on education if it doesn’t want to lose talent.” She adds that people come back here for their own personal benefit too. “Earning in dollars there and coming back carries a lot of value,” she notes.   

Enrich the  economy
Aamir, a second-year BBM student, weighs the pros and cons of brain drain reversal. He says, “Brain drain is when people migrate from one country to another in search of better opportunities for higher studies and exposure to foreign land. The fact that they are coming back is important as it restores the economy of the country.

 Youngsters should actually think about how they can boost the economy, especially the IT sector. Our talent and ideas are developed when we go outside as we are exposed to new perspectives but our entrepreneurship skills can be used here.”

Lack of quality education 
Akshay, a web designer, says that reverse brain drain is important as it leads to new companies being set up. 

“A lot of companies are closing  in India. This will reduce if people stick around,” he says. Akshay also adds that universities in India should have world-class standards so that people stay back. 

“Here, a lot of educational schemes are spoken about but not implemented. For example, there is no point in setting up new IITs when the existing institutes lack quality teachers, infrastructure and funds.” 

He also adds that the quota for NRIs hampers the growth of youngsters. 

“A lot of people go there, study for a while and come back either because of recession or because foreign companies don’t have the work permit for Indians.

 When they come back, they have a better chance here and they take away all our jobs.”