Govt to reverse brain drain, bring back NRI scientists

[Daedalus]

In a bid to reverse the brain drain of the past few decades and to bring back scientific talent, the Narendra Modigovernment has initiated talks with many eminent non-resident Indian scientists, who left the country to pursue research overseas.

The Ministry of Science and Technology has approached about a dozen well-known scientists from across the world in an effort to bring them back to various departments under the ministry, said Jitendra Singh, minister of state (independent charge) for science and technology.

According to Singh, the government is trying to facilitate and create a conducive environment along with social infrastructure to attract the scientists who had left the country many years ago for various reasons.

These scientists, mostly coming back through different government fellowships, will be inducted in various reputed institutions and departments, including the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bose Institute and many other research centres, mainly those funded by the government.

According to K Vijay Raghavan, secretary (additional charge) to Department of Science and Technology (DST), the department has constituted two different re-entry fellowships - Ramalingaswami and Ramanujan fellowships - under which scientists are coming back and taking up projects in India.

The ministry plans to float more such fellowship going forward and create a conducive environment to hold back such talent on a permanent basis, Singh added.

A senior official from the Ministry of Earth Sciences said most scientists who have been shown interest in coming to work in India are from reputed universities and many of them have shown interest in participating in projects run by India Meteorological Department. Most of them want to work in India on a temporary basis, the official clarified.

DST is also in talks with various domestic as well as multinational pharmaceutical companies to partner for research in the area of drug discovery. "We are trying to involve the industry at two levels. One, we are in talks with some companies on projects where they can take care of the funding part. Secondly, there are also companies which have their own research and development (R&D) wings. So, we are discussing if we can collaborate with them and take the research forward," said Singh.

He added that government institutions, which were so far focused on researching on India-centric diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and vaccines, are now looking at lifestyle diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular and cancer.

Singh was speaking at a function of his ministry to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with All India Institute of Medical Sciences to partner for furtherance of cancer research.

Govt to reverse brain drain, bring back NRI scientists | Business Standard News

12 scientists want to come back, work for India: Union Minister Jitendra Singh - The Economic Times

 

[SrNair]

Good development

 

[Sahasranama]

Modi is trying to do in 60 months what the CONgi could not do in 60 years. The man is trying to etch his name in history !

Maybe some day I will be telling my grandchildren that I lived during the life and times of Sri. Narendra Modi

 

[Voltaire]

Give them comparable salaries,budgets and facilities..unless one does that all this is just more "all talk and no show".

 

[VCheng]

In a bid to reverse the brain drain of the past few decades and to bring back scientific talent, the Narendra Modigovernment has initiated talks with many eminent non-resident Indian scientists, who left the country to pursue research overseas.
The Ministry of Science and Technology has approached about a dozen well-known scientists from across the world in an effort to bring them back to various departments under the ministry, said Jitendra Singh, minister of state (independent charge) for science and technology.
According to Singh, the government is trying to facilitate and create a conducive environment along with social infrastructure to attract the scientists who had left the country many years ago for various reasons.

It will take much more than talks to create the sort of conducive environment that could reverse the brain drain. Talent only goes where it flourishes with appreciation.

 

[Daedalus]

It will take much more than talks to create the sort of conducive environment that could reverse the brain drain. Talent only goes where it flourishes with appreciation.

We can't force them to come back, but the infrastructure is there which took us lot of time to build like IITs, NITs, AIIMS, DRDO, IIST, NIPER, and many more. The GOI isn't just talking but also taking concrete steps to facilitate this, like starting the Ramanujan Fellowship, Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Programme and the Ramalingaswamy Fellowship. I know we have a long way to go but it could be wise to say that we are on the right track.
Some could even go a little further and say that the reverse brain drain has already started, like the second link suggest.

About 500 scientists have come back from abroad and are working in various institutions across the country. Of these only six have gone back for various reasons.”

Reverse Brain Drain Phenomenon– India’s Travel against Brain Drain | Study Abroad

The reverse brain drain: why NRIs are returning to India - NDTVProfit.com
What lures them back - Reverse Brain Drain? Indian doctors come home, treat patients from across the globe | The Economic Times

 

[ranjeet]

Did anyone saw Modi's speech to Indian Diaspora in Japan? I am waiting for his address to the Indian Americans in NY. His mere speeches leave one spell bound.

 

[VCheng]

We can't force them to come back, but the infrastructure is there which took us lot of time to build like IITs, NITs, AIIMS, DRDO, IIST, NIPER, and many more. The GOI isn't just talking but also taking concrete steps to facilitate this, like starting the Ramanujan Fellowship, Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Programme and the Ramalingaswamy Fellowship. I know we have a long way to go but it could be wise to say that we are on the right track.
Some could even go a little further and say that the reverse brain drain has already started, like the second link suggest.

The right track, yes, but still a long ways to go.

 

[SouthDesi]

The right track, yes, but still a long ways to go.

It's not new to India. Lots of people returned even before also, but in other fields. Our current RBI governor is returned back from USA last year and lot more similar cases there including ex-PM MMS.

 

[VCheng]

It's not new to India. Lots of people returned even before also, but in other fields. Our current RBI governor is returned back from USA last year and lot more similar cases there including ex-PM MMS.

Yes, because you guys know how to value and benefit from your expatriate's experience, unlike us, who treat them as ATMs to be cashed out but then also demonized.

 

[Viper0011.]

It will take much more than talks to create the sort of conducive environment that could reverse the brain drain. Talent only goes where it flourishes with appreciation.

Have you ever seen infrastructure in India or their current Business and Scientific portfolio??? Probably not, people and politicians in Pakistan were too busy playing negative politics that don't do any good for the people of Pakistan (like the violent protests). When many of the leaders should've cared to see how your neighbor was advancing and that Pakistan should take advantage of it too.

Btw, Last year around February, I was reviewing a few documents about priorities for the Punjab gov't (Pakistani side). One of the SS's priority was to create a model like Malaysia, that would bring back some brain drain in Pakistan. They even did some studying on it to see how the model could be implemented. The first priorities are to produce enough electricity to eliminate the power outages and take the economy to around 5-6% growth per year and increasing. But this does exist in Pakistan's leaderships mind, which is good

 

[VCheng]

Have you ever seen infrastructure in India or their current Business and Scientific portfolio??? Probably not, people and politicians in Pakistan were too busy playing negative politics that don't do any good for the people of Pakistan (like the violent protests). When many of the leaders should've cared to see how your neighbor was advancing and that Pakistan should take advantage of it too.

As I said above, India is on the right path, but still has a long long way to go.

 

[Viper0011.]

As I said above, India is on the right path, but still has a long long way to go.

I look at it differently. India WAS on the right path in the mid 90's due to their democratic system and it's served them well. Now its on its way to be the TOP TWO economy in the world and a big military power. They are almost there. The paths are set and the system is pretty much running on autopilot. The current PM is trying to go supersonic so he's breaking the autopilot cruise, which is added value. But the core system is entirely setup and now it'll be organic growth every year.