If you believe in the above, pl. keep on reading.

I believe a Strong India is being achieved and would continually to be achieved first and foremost through its trained and skilled manpower who in most cases also offer potential of being well read and thoughful citizenry.

In the last fifteen years, india’s trained and skilled manpower has managed to be absorbed in factories and companies all around the world, be it gulf or oceania or americas.  These very people send billions of dollars back to india which more often than not get used by banks to provide liquidity to the markets or get absorbed in the infrastructure projects – primarily real estate for their families. These NRIs, in many cases, are also able to make their relatives and friends go after careers that demand skilled and trained manpower or atleast provide insipiration, thru their economic success, to a whole generation in their extended families and friend circle to grow up and make something out of their lives. 

The main unemployment numbers, more often than not, include those who are not trained or skilled in a specific skill being used by factories and businesses in or outside India. For the economicaly disadvantage family, it makes little sense to focus on skills which have few takers, however, Indians being free to choose their work destiny unlike Chinese, there is little that any outsider can do about this personal choice other than respecting it.

Also, this in no way discounts the fact that school education is extremely important and drop out rates in india are alarming. In many cases, these children and their families do not realize what they have missed out on until much later when world moves forward, has new industries and scope for new jobs. A very good case in example would be pakistan’s education system versus India’s.  Indians didnt know computers would hit the world in a big way in 90s but they somehow kept the focus on maths and science all through late 70s and 80s. So, when computer industry hit the world in the 90s, no one was more hungry and better prepared than indians to take on the new jobs that this industry generated. It was a leap that had great ripple effects across industries that took India in the leagues of powerful countries in a span of less than 10 years, from 1998 to 2008. India now stands tall, though still short of its potential, however, now it gets compared to and competes with china whereas most of the south asian neighbouring countries including pakistan simply missed the bus and watched with awe this “sudden and unexpected” rise of india(ns).

Even when people agree with the above, they have argued with me that the making of skilled and trained manpower is already happening and there is little need for us to do anything at this point as there is a training institute in india for almost anything that needs to be taught. Also they further argue that this change is gradual and it will take few more generations before india could achieve high levels of competency, complete literacy and could produce so called well read and thoughtful citizens in abundance.

Let me answer that now.

 I agree fully with the statement above. However, having said that, we are still miles behind china and drop out ratio is alarming in our schools esp at rural level and what concerns me most are those individual students, of all ages across country, who want to do something with their lives. Perhaps just earn the dignity of being educated individuals or pursue expensive higher end education and training, but are not able to pursue their dreams due to lack of funds, and in many cases,  lack of family support that comes with it.

This is an effort to make it easy for those students to reach NRIs and others within India as well who would be willing to sponsor them in their pursuit of education and training, no matter how basic or skilled.

Whats my idea? Let me talk about basic education first - (upto 10th grade) with a focus on rural areas and economically backward states.For basic education, my idea is a “Sponsor indian school students” website where

1. Database of all schools at a city/ village, district, state, level is maintained by each class. This will simply include principal, individual teachers, treasury, facilities, pictures and videos of facility and interviews with willing member of faculty.

2. Principal must have a recorded video of providing his/ her vision of school to the public and agree to adhere to the  transparency and accountability norms as per the agreement, with repect to the use of funds routed to his school treasury, if his/ her school is to be included in our beneficiery list.

3.  Students dropping off or having difficulty to continue due to financial reasons can put a request through their principal.  Benefactors worldwide can sponsor on a student by student basis. Their attendance record must be made available along with this request. The requested amount can not exceed US$40 per month for each student.

4. Principal can further put up a request for sponsorship for a project of his choice. he must provide a complete project execution plan, resource requirement, time and budget estimates and potential benefits for student from the project. He must also agree to provide a detailed report of grant’s utilization report as per the agreement norms.

5. Local volunteers can be invited to join to coordinate with schools to partner on getting local working or retired citizenry in various skilled professions like Mechanics, Enterpreneurs, Military personnel, Accountants, Politicians, Economists, Carpenters, Policemen, Bankers, Musicians, Plumbers, Broadcasters, Gardeners, Teachers, Linguists,  Investors, Scientists, etc. to visit various schools and conduct voluntary lectures and provide knowledge to students on their professions and enlighten students on what working in their profession means, how they are making a difference and what the students would have to learn and how they can start early to make a similar career for themselves.

–Your thoughts on this one project first before I move forward with more ideas on higher education and high end training

Corruption by govt. employees is prevalent in india across all areas related to public service. Some NRIs are of the view that more than anything else, this is one thing that prevents them from going back to India.

We have plenty of leadership in USA esp Silicon Valley when it comes to technology and thought. We pride ourselves on solving many hurdles and problems that separate us and our companies from our intended destination.

Lets put on our thinking hats and use some of that to make a list of things that can help curb corruption in short term with little effort and in long term with little bit of thought leadership.

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