On 30th October 2019, The Pioneer posted on their socials media and newspaper about why Indians are moving to abroad
There are several
reasons why Indians are moving abroad when it comes to education and work, this
despite the country being the land of opportunities, says RACHIT JAIN
India
is certainly a nation of growth and prosperity. Its abundance of manpower
guarantees more contribution to the economy at large. Naturally, one can assume
that the nation is thriving in its native population but in reality, this is
far from true. We are moving to the West when it comes to education and work,
this despite the country known as the land of opportunities.
Change of mindset
We
have the highest Mobility Index ranking across the world of 144 followed by
Brazil, China and Mexico. Young Indian’s (18 – 34 years) are more willing than
older ones (35 to 64 years), making the age gap prominent. This can be
contributed to the change of mindset, along with a host of other reasons.
While
the earlier generation was sceptical about the amount of money one had to
invest to move abroad, the onset of increased dispensable income and value
provided by the international organisation are urging the youth to look for
better prospects.
Money
isn’t any more a criterion, states an eminent report as less than a third of
the respondents are willing to move abroad for a job without a pay hike.
Better Opportunities
A
burgeoning population like our’s may look like a gold mine of opportunities but
is it the case? Unlikely, as there is a lack of advancement in infrastructure
and amenities that has hindered the apt generation of jobs. Finding adequate
opportunities for such a large population is a considerable challenge, which
nations such as the US are aptly capitalising on.
According
to the National Science Foundation, a US Government agency, there were about
9,50,000 scientists and engineers of Indian origin in the US in the year 2013,
making an 85 per cent growth in the number from 2003.
The
US has the apt infrastructure and not surprisingly the demand for enterprising
individuals with the hunger to achieve. This is exactly the sweet spot that an
educated Indian want to capitalise, plugging the demand and supply for
scientists, engineers, and doctors rather than hunting for opportunities back
home.
Outsourcing
Services
We
can’t blindly state that we are lacking in resources and innovation as it has
risen to be a leading provider of manpower, being one of the biggest
Information Technology and outsourcing services providers in the world.
Companies like Genpact, TCS, Infosys, and Wipro have been successful in
making a significant mark in the EU and the US, with a vast capacity to offer
large scale IT and BPO services.
Yet,
it is this progress that is biting the nation on its tail as the nation is the
brink of a major brain drain from continuously sustaining this supply. It is
because IT and consulting are vast industries that require a yearly stream of
sizable manpower to ensure their smooth functioning. This has created a snag in
the nations own plan of growth as even the India-based international
organisations require several workers in the industry to go overseas, at least
for long periods.
Higher education
The
standard of education extolled in the halls of Indian institutes is on a
decline. The undue emphasis on traditional rote learning, takes away the
real-life lessons from the curriculum, thereby providing half-cooked knowledge.
Knowing this, parents are more and keener to sending their progenies abroad,
making it an agenda for them to enter into esteemed institutions such as Yale,
Cambridge, Princeton and Harvard.
With
an increase in the disposable income of families, this dream is increasingly
becoming a reality as Indian Students Mobility Report 2016 states that the
growth in the number of students going abroad is at an unprecedented high, with
2015 clocking a 17.8 per cent. Most of these students head out to the the US,
the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand and prefer to start working in these
countries after their education, as it is feasible to work in the nation from
where they have gained an education, instead of returning home.
Immense opportunity
Study/working
abroad is a great opportunity to see the world and take in new cultures, to be
a citizen of the world. Here, the kind of education you receive is priceless,
not only in terms of academics but also in terms of dealing with new people,
situations, etc. You get a chance to learn a new language and to enhance public
speaking skills, understand what the career structure outside India is and how
one can exploit it to one’s advantage. Last but not least, there is
personal development, as you take up new interests and which often turns into
successful business propositions.
Once
you have worked aboard, opportunities will open up in India, if one wishes to
return, as well as anywhere you go.
The
writer is Founder-CEO, Youth4Work