The Hindu Business Line : Brain drain

The article "Should India be filling West's demographic gap" (Business Line, May 3) clearly brought out the demographic situation prevailing in western countries. The high proportion of aged population is a problem in the developed countries of the west while high proportion of younger population is the strength of Indian economy.

But the pity is that India is not able to realise the importance of human resources nor recognise theskills, talents and enterprise that can be derived therefrom.India must remove the hindrance to the youth for remaining in India. The process of removal of existing disincentives involves requires addressing of two things recognition of merit as the sole basis for jobs and removal of corruption and bribe-taking.

Reservations in government jobs and monetary demands of officials and politicians from job-seekers make the youth go to other countries for employment. India is a fast-growing economy and job opportunities are bound to increase with higher GDP growth. At this stage, the government must make sincere efforts to remove all roadblocks to young, talented people getting jobs here.

The government must do all that it can to show to the youth in general and medical professionals and scientists in particular that advantages of working in India outweighs the advantages of working in the western countries. The article has hit the nail by concluding that the best approach to reversing brain drain will be ensuring rule of law, a corruption-free milieu, and equality of treatment based on merit alone.

K. K. Ammannaya

Udupi

Letters to the editor and contributions can be sent by e-mail to: bleditor@thehindu.co.in