Posts Tagged manmohan singh

Manmohan Singh continues NRIs courting: Voting Rights and Brain Gain

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh continues to remind NRIs abroad that they are always welcome back home in India, perhaps more than ever before!

During his visit to USA in November, Prime Minister used the term “brain gain” instead of “reverse brain drain”. Thanking the Indian-American community for their contribution in building bridges between India and the United States, he invited the Indian diaspora worldwide to return home.
“Let me take this opportunity to extend an invitation to all Indian Americans and non-resident Indians who wish to return home to India in one capacity or another,” said Manmohan Singh. The Prime Minister said that Indian-Americans no longer had to make a choice about whether to work in India or America, “Modern technology and our flexible policies have opened possibilities of working in both places.” Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Brain Drain to Brain Gain – Indians Abroad

The NRIs and Indians Abroad are a valuable asset for building India!

The ‘Brain drain’ is common among developing countries, India is no exception. Young, ambitious and educated class of society leaving homeland and heading abroad, searching for a better future, a better tomorrow.

For decades, the woes of brain drain from India to the developed countries have been blamed on many problems at home, including education system and the job opportunities. Patriotism and loyalty to the mother-land is often quoted as the lacking character among the youths settled abroad, who turn their back on the country that raised them, provided for them and educated them.

In spite of all this so called ‘brain drain’ for so long, however, there is no shortage of brain in India. the country is emerging as a fast developing nation, with GDP growth rate that western countries can only imagine (and admire from a distance). Actually there has to be some extra ‘brain power’ in India that is leading a populous country with 1.1 billion heads on a path of inventions, modernization and prosperity.

Every good thing must comes to and end, or slow down. :) With recession and high unemployment in America – and rest of the developed world – many Indians living overseas are considering going back home. Some of the key incentives to stay abroad – job security and financial opportunities – have faded over the years. Thousands of NRIs – frustrated with the grim job outlook, – have packed up their American luggage and headed home for good. Many more are expected to follow the suit.

The NRIs all over the world are very aware of the prosperity and bright prospects of India. Some daydream of returning home in the near future; others are finding a way to collaborate with homeland on new opportunities. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

All that glitters is Gold – 200 tons!

India Buys 200 tons of Gold to diversify its assets!

It was the summer of 1991, times were tough – well, for India. The country was struggling to make the payments on its international loans. With the fear of default on upcoming payments, India pawned its hard asset, the gold – 67 tons of it. To raise badly needed cash, India sold 47 tons gold to the Bank of England and 20 tons to the Union Bank of Switzerland. The total price -$600 millions.

For a person, or a family or a nation, the tough times always bring some tough tests, some tough choices. It is during the down times when resilience, endurance and willpower are tested. The real character – the real character of a person, a real character of a nation – emerges from the behavior and actions during challenging time.
So, what are the results of such tough tests? It is either a downward spiral that could lead to complete devastation, or a rise to glory from the ashes of down days.

The test of 1991 economic crisis fell on the shoulder of the newly appointed finance minister. Luckily, this time, it was not just another politician. It was someone who knew a thing or two about finances and economics. For a change, a man with financial vision took over the economy of a beaten down country. This man with a vision – the new Finance Minister – was none other than Dr. Manmohan Singh. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , , , ,

An open letter to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh

Global issue of racial bias against NRIs and Indians abroad

Honorable Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh
This letter is on behalf of the social commentary site ‘The Indians Abroad’ based out of USA. The letter is prompted by the current incidents of racial attacks against Indians in Melbourne, Australia. However, this long overdue request and suggestion is more towards the need of general awareness of negative bias against Indians abroad, and finding ways to minimize it.

Most of us go abroad for the main reasons of education or for finding better opportunities for ourselves and our families. The challenges of adapting to the foreign culture and the social issues of minority status are part of our daily living. These issues are often discussed and well understood by most of the Indian communities. The recent incidents of violence against Indians in Australia have exposed the tip of this iceberg – the often ignored racial biases against Indian immigrants that exist in most of the Western society.

The racial violence is not-so-common in the developed countries in this day and age; however, the related discrimination is everywhere. The social perception of Indians in the Western society is pretty negative. A large number of NRIs settled abroad are highly skilled professionals – doctors, engineers, scientists and so on…., but the overall view of the Indian community abroad is that of a low class society.

While Indian Govt. is looking into a possible policy to address racial violence abroad, a similar policy or steps are needed to address ever so prevalent racial biases and discriminations. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,