From: ngopalas@ho15.eng.ua.edu (Nath S. Gopalaswamy)
Subject: Re: Should the government subsidize IITs etc?
Organization: The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 14:50:48 GMT

In article <1992Sep29.021052.16087@unixg.ubc.ca> banarji@unixg.ubc.ca (Ajai Banarji) writes:
>
>1) Considering that the country does gain some foreign exchange from the
>people who go abroad, is the money spent on their education really a dead
>loss? I can't say whether the 2 lakhs figure is accurate, but if it is, it
>is only about $7000-a rather small amount compared to the remittances
>over a few years.

As far as I know that was the figure published in our Campus newspaper.
I agree it is small, compared to the salaries of the professionals here.

>
>2) Suppose they don't go abroad. Suppose instead they join a pure marketing
>job with a company selling consumer products like Hindustan Lever? Isn't
>that a waste too? Who should pay?
>  When jobs of this type are generally considered to be more desirable
>than regular engineering jobs (both in terms of career prospects and
>renumeration), how do you plan to force people to work as engineers?

Point taken, but as I think India would benefit from their smartness more than
it would if everyone was here. At least they are contributing to the Indian
economy.

>
>3) Suppose they don't sell soap either. Suppose, instead, they work in a
>typical Indian manufacturing company. It is almost certain that not even
>10% of their technical knowledge is being used. This is also a waste. Who
>should pay for it?
>
[ deleted]

>5) Suppose you do pass a law compelling people to work in India for a
>certain period before going abroad. Would you be kind enough to tell us
>where they should work in order to benefit India? I'm not being sarcastic,

As I recall, some astronomer at Pune Institute proposed this ban on exodus
of IITans. He also did not offer any concrete suggestions. I was just thinking
out aloud that the US has it made, it doesn't have to spend a cent on health
care or primary education, and presto a new-born highly skilled engineer is
ready for work! The Indian taxpayer is not going to pose all the above questionsto himself, all he sees is that guys educated with his money are taking off
abroad. Now that is enough to get him pissed :-). 

>I really want to know.  Incidentally, shouldn't this "penalty" apply to
>people who join MBA programs, the IAS etc as well as those who go abroad?
>
In fact I think some chief guest spoke of the above phenomenon also and
criticised that tendency.

>  There are many other standard comments which appear periodically in the
>Indian press, but no one seems to have the guts to ask questions of the
>sort above.
>  Finally, a personal note. There was someone I knew who made a lot of
>rude comments about IIT traitors etc etc. It was rather significant that
>he made these comments just after hearing that his son had failed to get
>admission. Sour grapes.....

I guess what I suggested was a compromise, not a sop to a guilty conscience.
Not enough attractive openings exist back home, so we come here, but in return
there is a moral obligation on our part to pay back the system for the subsid-
ized education we have been accorded. And 5000-6000 $ is a small amount to those
working here. Remittances home are not part of that deal. After all, you keep 
and NRI acct because you get interest, not out of selfless reasons.

Nath. 

PS Regardless of rude comments, that should not prevent introspection on our 
part.>:]
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian