The Union budget was presented today in the parliament. I am not an economist nor I understand all these huge numbers. I hope the guys concerned do understand :-) . But what interested me was government spending over 2000 Crores on IIT's and NIT's. This is a wonderful news for our higher education system. Our gen next will have more opportunities to get good education. Good for them and hopefully good for the country.
What disturbs me as a tax payer whose money is being used to provide this infrastructure is what is the commitment of the beneficiaries to use this very subsidised world class education they receive here for India's benefit. A huge percentage of them usually end up taking a job outside the country and blame the system here from long distance. They would never be part of the system and work towards improving them. Its obvious if something goes which hurts their benefits they will be out on the street and shout slogans like when there was this reservation issue. I am absolutely not in favor of reservation and count the events of reservation started by Mr. V. P. Singh responsible for all the social mess we are in. But then these guys should do some should searching and seek giving back to this country. Their should be some accountability and commitment to return their gratitude for this wonderful and cheap education they get. As I understand Doctors have to compulsorily spend some months in rural country as part of their curriculum, engineers should also be made to work within this country preferably in public enterprise for say two years or so in exchange for the near free world class education they get from institutes like IIT's or IIM's etc. Or else the 3% odd direct tax paying population of this country would feel burdened and weak carrying load of all - a rich farmer, a corrupt bureaucrat, a dishonest businessman and an inefficient system.
What disturbs me as a tax payer whose money is being used to provide this infrastructure is what is the commitment of the beneficiaries to use this very subsidised world class education they receive here for India's benefit. A huge percentage of them usually end up taking a job outside the country and blame the system here from long distance. They would never be part of the system and work towards improving them. Its obvious if something goes which hurts their benefits they will be out on the street and shout slogans like when there was this reservation issue. I am absolutely not in favor of reservation and count the events of reservation started by Mr. V. P. Singh responsible for all the social mess we are in. But then these guys should do some should searching and seek giving back to this country. Their should be some accountability and commitment to return their gratitude for this wonderful and cheap education they get. As I understand Doctors have to compulsorily spend some months in rural country as part of their curriculum, engineers should also be made to work within this country preferably in public enterprise for say two years or so in exchange for the near free world class education they get from institutes like IIT's or IIM's etc. Or else the 3% odd direct tax paying population of this country would feel burdened and weak carrying load of all - a rich farmer, a corrupt bureaucrat, a dishonest businessman and an inefficient system.
6 comments:
A good point raised. But lets take another perspective into account.
A student passes out from top level colleges like the IITs, AIIMS, IIMS etc. He naturally wants to work in an environment which is highly motivating and also where his gray cells can be applied. If the work culture is not upto the standards, why would he work here, leaving the much better offers from abroad both in terms of money and quality.
The promotion is so slow in public sector, a person is left to rot at the same rank for years. The government should strive hard to improve the work standards, provide better facilities. It should implement schemes to induce confidence in the public about a brighter future in PSUs.
Well yes, these things are certainly happening, but the rate of development has to be increased.
As I had mentioned in the blog its easier to curse the system then be a part of it and work towards improving it. In any case its all good getting something from the system (in this case education from say IIT) and the system becomes slow and bad when we have to contribute is a hypocrisy. Still if some one does want to move on to apply his grey cells, they should pay the complete course fees and not a very subsidized one. I believe I pay my taxes for this country and it should be used for the upliftment of this country.
I mostly agree to your point...
But, there is a small problem... that is feasibility.
Do you think that it is possible for someone going for higher studies abroad, especially one who takes huge amount of loan for the same, will come back to Indian market??
Another point, Are there enough Indian companies who can pay graduates from IITs, IIMs and AIIMS well to keep them motivated? Well, you have mentioned the point of being in the system rather than cursing the system... but don't you think that is a far fetched thought??
The idea behind your post is perfect, but, I feel you are ahead of your time. Probably by 2020 your school of thot will be implemented... and I really hope it is done.
The problem is we all think cursing the system solves our problem. No, we have to be pro active. Its not at all a far fetched idea. There are enough examples in this country that shows living within the system and working pro actively can take us two steps ahead. The whole idea of this thought is if some one going to a medical college for studies go and work in rural India to get their degrees why cant we engineers who go to college at almost zero fees as compared to the cost which these colleges incur on us work in a PSU to pay back the investment this country has done on us. As far as coming back I think its more inflow now than outflow. After many many years I read that there are still 20K H1B Visa applications this year yet to be filled up where as usually 65K annual H1B visas used to be over in a day.
Sandeep Bhaiya,
It is true that a significant proportion of the students from IITs end up outside India. It is also completely reasonable to expect that when you are getting the benefits of a subsidized education, then you should pay something back. But I disagree with your proposal of making such students work for a PSU in India.
The reasons are:
1) Most IITans who go out of India, actually go for higher education, masters or PhD. After getting such advanced qualification, it is a waste of talent in using bright students for running standard plant equipment. IMHO, legislative regulation of intelligence wont work.
2) The promotions in PSU’s have quotas associated with them. No one would want to work under a boss who is a lesser engineer than you, but has gone ahead due to quota system. I am all for reservations till undergraduate education, so that the backward classes can get more opportunities, but not in the workplace, neither in the private sector nor in the public sector, and also not in post graduate education.
3) Alumni from IITs and other engineering colleges do give back a significant amount to their alma mater, allowing them to start new branches and expand infrastructure. e.g. IIT SOM. There are big alumni donors in such institutions, and they provide significant help. Also the people working outside India, earn and transfer foreign exchange to India.
4) You also made the comment that since you are paying taxes for this country, it should be used for uplifting this country. By the same token, people in the US or UK can say, that no foreign students should be allowed for post graduation in those countries, since enormous money (mostly govt. grants) is spent on that. This would be a big disaster, because most researchers in strategic fields in India are trained abroad. And as a business owner, I am sure you don’t want any kind of closed or protected economy.
5) And about coming back to India, I believe that quite a few people are returning. But we must keep in mind that it is only recently that large corporations have started opening R&D centers in India. So let’s give it some more time, but eventually more and more people will come back.
Coming back to your point of subsidized education, I agree that when you are reaping the benefits of a flawed system you should do something for the system. However I don’t think that a comparison between doctors and engineers is completely appropriate, the level of specialization is quite different, and the time needed for an internship is also very different. So we should go about in a different manner for this.
For all the best institutions in India, educational subsidy should be completely abolished, and the students should pay for their actual educational costs by taking student loans, which can have a low rate of interest, starting after the student has finished his undergraduate education. That way he himself is supporting his education. This gives the student the freedom to develop his career, and also does not put additional burden on the taxpayer. The students from these A-class institutions have no issues finding jobs, so there is no problem for anyone. It also removes the burden from their families.
What do you think?
Hi Siddharth, I have been busy and traveling so couldnt respond to you earlier. You seem to be not very positive about PSU's. I believe the best engineers in this country are in PSU's. Metro,Konkan railway or the giant steel plants are good example.Public sectors world wide have to work in a different system.India is no different. We expect nationalism from every citizen. Cricketers are expected to play for national duty and not IPL if such a situation arises.Why are engineers to be different? I believe its better to try to change the system where ever its possible and not just sit outside watch and curse. Yes there are many things wrong in the system, promotions may be slow, caste and politics play a role but then the beneficiaries(those who take this cheap world class education) just cant take that plea for not contributing back. My idea is simple there should not be free lunch. Those who take this benefits should contribute back either in kind(work for PSU projects) or cash(pay full fees). I am absolutely not in favor of protected economy. If the US govt gives grants they benefit the most out of it.As far as I have been able to understand US and its economy its such a strong capitalist country that nothing is free there. The beneficiaries of govt grant are accountable for the money they get and the govt reaps benefits in multiples to this grant. Its just money brother which plays in everyones mind. Most of the people come back to India once they have had enough of this money and now look forward to India for family and teach their kids Indian values.
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