Editorial
In a recent development, Mr Donald Trump (President-elect of USA), has agonised his supporters with his move of supporting the H-1B visa scheme. Native Americans, especially the white Americans, are opposing it on the grounds that this visa scheme deprives them of jobs. The biggest beneficiaries of this visa scheme are Indian citizens working in the technology and engineering sectors, who take up lucrative jobs in USA. The H-1B visa makes it easier for the world’s most renowned companies such as Apple, Amazon, Meta, Google to recruit skilled and experienced foreigners, including Indian engineers, to benefit themselves.
It was this very scheme that enabled the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, to come to the USA. The ongoing debate between those supporting and opposing this scheme has now taken a racist and even anti-India and anti-Hindu form. This started when President-elect Trump appointed 6 Indian-Americans to senior positions in his administration ! The controversy intensified after the appointment of the sixth Indian, Mr Sriram Krishnan as the Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.
Far-right activist and Trump supporter Laura Loomer is at the forefront of those opposing the H-1B visa scheme. After Mr Sriram Krishnan was appointed, she referred to Krishnan as a ‘third world invader’. Loomer had many supporters. After this, the issue of the H-1B visa scheme got sidelined and opponents started spreading hateful writings on ‘X’, blaming India and Hindus. The messages included insulting messages such as – ‘How many houses in India have flush toilets (commodes) ?’, ‘O’ Indians ! Move out from USA !’, ‘Second-class citizens of Mexico are better than Indians’.
According to a survey conducted against the backdrop of this opposition, 60% of American citizens feel that there is no need to implement the H-1B visa scheme to bring foreigners to USA; because, the country already has a large number of skilled foreign technicians and engineers. Therefore, it would not be surprising if opposition to this scheme intensifies. If there are major changes in the H-1B visa scheme and the rules are made stricter, the dream of young Indians to go and settle in USA will be shattered. Hence, the Indian Government is also keeping an eye on these developments there.
Leaving their homeland, mother tongue and culture, why do Indian youth like to go to USA and live as second-class citizens ? Is it very difficult for them to submit their resignation letter to the white bosses and return to India ?
Efforts are needed for ‘India First’ !
Currently, the winds of MAGA (Make America Great Again) are blowing strongly in USA. According to this policy, the issue of giving priority to Americans in all sectors is being stressed upon. Trump contested the election on this point. He had already announced that he would crack down on immigrants. During his first term as President, he focused on changing the H-1B visa scheme so that Americans would get jobs. Therefore, Trump supporters want him to keep his promise to the US citizens and stop giving a red-carpet welcome to foreigners. On the advice of his best friend Elon Musk, as of now, Trump has said that he will not change the H-1B scheme. However, if public opposition intensifies, the scheme could be changed significantly.
Statistics show that in 2023, some 3,86,000 applications for H-1B visa were approved, and 2,67,000 H-1B visa applications were renewed. In 2022, some 4,74,000 foreigners had benefited from the H-1B visa. From these statistics, it can be seen that the USA is gradually reducing the rate of granting H-1B visas to foreigners. If this happens, Indians living there could also be expelled. Against this backdrop, the responsibility of the Indian Government has increased.
It is necessary to create an environment in all sectors so that Indian youth do not have to go to other countries for jobs. Only then can the problem of brain-drain in India be prevented. According to one statistic, between 2015 and 2022, 1.3 crore Indians left India for jobs or education to other countries. In 2022, some 2,25,000 Indians renounced their Indian citizenship and took up foreign citizenship.
This is a huge figure in recent times. India’s Information and Technology sector accounts for 7.5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Many experts believe that if the highly educated people who have gone abroad had stayed back, India’s GDP would have crossed the Rs 1.71 lakh crore mark. By 2030, the Information and Technology sector can generate a revenue of Rs 1 trillion for India; however, this calls for prevention of the brain-drain from this sector. Therefore, instead of focusing on whether the USA changes the H-1B visa scheme, the Government should take steps to ensure that Indians do not have to leave India.
A test of Indians’ self-respect, for sure !
There is nothing wrong in someone dreaming of earning a lot of money to improve his standard of living; but is money everything in life ? Do pride and self-respect have any importance in human life ? Indians in USA, as well as Indians who want to go there, should think about this aspect.
Even when there are racist attacks on Indians in the USA, how many Indians say, ‘Come on, let’s return to our homeland now ?’ Is it better to live like a king eating vegetables & bread in the homeland or to live like a slave in a palace abroad and endure the ridicule of others ?
The problem created by H-1B visa issue is truly a big challenge before India. The day the self-respect of Indian youth awakens, they will reject the high-paying jobs in USA and give priority to India’s development. This day will simultaneously mark the beginning of India’s rise and the fall of USA, which has become a superpower on the support of Indians !
The day the self-respect of Indian youth awakens, they will reject high-paying jobs in USA & give priority to India’s development ! |