Spurt in return of NRI doctors: study
NEW DELHI: Indian scientists and doctors who studied and practised abroad are returning to their home country seeking ways to give back and find professional fulfilment, a new study says. More and more medical professionals are giving up lucrative jobs in the USA and other adopted countries to return to India and join research institutes and hospitals, reveals the study by the Charities Aid Foundation of India.

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NEW DELHI: Indian scientists and doctors who studied and practised abroad are returning to their home country seeking ways to give back and find professional fulfilment, a new study says.

More and more medical professionals are giving up lucrative jobs in the USA and other adopted countries to return to India and join research institutes and hospitals, reveals the study by the Charities Aid Foundation of India (CAF).

The statistics are revealing. Of some 250 research scientists working at Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, 20 have returned from foreign shores. They are involved in new drug research.

At Lupin Laboratories, four scientists came from the USA to join research in natural product chemistry. Ten of the 80 researchers in Nicholas Piramal have come from abroad and Wockhardt has weaned away 10 scientists for biotechnology, new drug research, chemistry and pharmacology.

According to CAF, a UK-based public trust that associates with corporate donors for social causes, this is proof of the "intensity of the reverse brain drain".

The largest number of professionals is coming from the USA, where Indian doctors are the largest foreign health professional group.

This inflow is aided by the powerful Association of American Physicians of Indian origin (AAPI) comprising 35,000 physicians that interacts regularly with the Medical Council of India.

Non-resident Indian (NRI) doctors support various health facilities and drives in India, including Apollo Hospitals, L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Vera Laboratories, Medwin Hospitals and the International School of Imaging Technology, as well as campaigns for polio immunisation and tuberculosis control.

Salaries offered to such NRI doctors in India have shot up, facilitating their return. Some large Indian corporate groups are hiring expatriates with packages ranging from $250,000 to $400,000 a year.

The study observes: "In India, they can afford luxuries they could not in the USA. The basic living conditions here are improving, research opportunities are opening up and drug companies are investing more in research."

Also, the work environment in India is much more flexible. Wockhardt Deputy Chief Research Scientist N.V.S. Ramakrishna was quoted as saying that unlike in India, scientists functioned in watertight compartments in the USA.

With an eye on encouraging the heartening trend, CAF has recommended various steps:

• Common examination centres in India and abroad for eligibility to practise.

• Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) cards for all medical and paramedical personnel to travel freely.

• Creating centres of reception and registration at the port of entry.

• Developing an interactive database.

• Collaboration between foreign and indigenous equipment manufacturers.

• Relaxing import duty on medical equipment.

The study also recommends strategy building to involve the diaspora with rural healthcare because NRI doctors have so far been concentrated in metropolises and urban areas. IANS

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A Did you know that India has the world’s second largest biscuit industry (after China)? And that the unorganised sector accounts for 60 per cent of sales of all bakery products in India? Well, now that you do, just go ahead and check out some of these courses that will help you master the art (and craft) of baking. Once you’ve grasped the basics, some practice (a few burnt cookies and one or two stubborn, refusing-to-rise cakes) followed by some more experimentation — and you’ll soon be perfect!

Your best bet would be the 2-year Craft Course (including 6-month industrial training) in Bakery and Confectionery offered by Food Craft Institute, New Delhi. This institute is affiliated to the Ministry of Tourism. Food Craft Institute, Old Gargi College Bldg., Behind LSR College, Lajpat Nagar-IV, New Delhi 110024 (Also in the Panipat and Faridabad centres of the institute). Eligibility: Class X (50 per cent agg) and English as a compulsory subject. Age: Below 22 years on October 1 (relaxable by 3 years for SC/ST candidates or those with work experience).

Commencement of the course: June/July.

Admission procedure: These courses are advertised in newspapers between February and May. Entrance is through a test/interview. Another good option if you would like to start your own bakery unit would be to sign up for the Entrepreneurship Development Programme on the Bakery Industry offered from time to time by Small Industries Service Institute, (GoI, M/o Small Scale, Agro & Rural Industries), Okhla Indl Estate, New Delhi 110020. (Ph: 683118, 6838068).

Besides guidelines on setting up your own unit, the programme introduces you to baking technology - production and processes involved in manufacture, packaging and marketing of bakery products, besides sourcing finance and selecting the right equipment. The course also covers 10-day in-plant practical training at a professional hotel management institute.

Eligibility: passed class X. Age: 18-40 years. The course covers practical and theoretical aspects of fruit and vegetable preservation and dairy products.

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree.

Food craft institutes are located all over the country and also offer short-term (1-2 weeks) courses in baking and cookery.

A Since most courses in sales and marketing are offered only at the PG level, it may be a good idea to enrol for a BBA/BBS course. Sales and marketing forms part of these programmes. This will also equip you to pursue a professional course at the PG level later.

A large number of universities offer BBA/BBM/BBS through distance learning i.e. Annamalai University, Bharathidasan University, Barkatullah Vishwavidyalaya, Madurai Kamraj University, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Mother Teresa Women’s University, Pondicherry University, Sikkim Manipal University (www.manipalit.com), the University of Calicut, the University of Madras (www.universityofmadras-ice.ac.in), Kurukshetra University, Guru Ghasidas University, Guru Jambheshwar University, Jain Vishva Bharati Institute, Visva Bharati, Santiniketan.

Many of them have study centres all over the country. Select one that has a study centre in your city.

A The Client Servicing department in a typical ad agency is manned (and womanned) by several account executives (AEs), working under an account planner who in turn may report to the group head. After receiving a detailed brief from the client, the account executive (who, by the way, has nothing to do with accounting or bookkeeping. In advertising parlance, each client is called an "account"), works out a strategy based on the brand’s positioning, its USP (unique selling proposition) and its communication objective. This done, the creative and media department are briefed and after considerable brainstorming over endless cups of coffee, a creative strategy is hammered out.

Involved with the campaign from day one till the very end, the AE’s job also involves coordinating with the Art Department to ensure a high level of creative output and with the Production Department to make sure that the TV spots, jingles, brochures, posters, and all printed or fabricated stuff is of the required standard and that the execution of the ad is in keeping with the client’s image and communication objectives.

Although an AE’s work is high-pressured, it is adequately compensated for in terms of remuneration and promotions if s/he is resourceful, ambitious and diplomatic in handling people. While the better agencies require an MBA, some others will be satisfied with a BA in Economics or a diploma in marketing or mass communication.

Magandeep Singh, Jalandhar

A On completing your course, depending on your specialisation, you could opt for the following jobs:

Research Assistant in a university, government body, health authority or industry.

Analyser and Investigator in food and beverage and pharmaceutical industries to maintain quality and consistency of the products.

Medical and Laboratory Technician in hospitals and institutions involved in conducting research and training.

Medical Sales Representative for promoting sales of pharmaceutical products to general practitioners, retail pharmacists, hospitals, clinics and doctors.

Conservationist to carry out biological surveys and accordingly make recommendations on the management and safeguarding of rare and endangered plants, animals and their habitats.

Teacher in schools (after doing BEd).

However, from the career point of view, postgraduate and better still doctorate studies in genetics, biotechnology, bioinformatics, biochemistry, environmental sciences, microbiology, oceanography, fishery sciences offer better prospects, particularly for those interested in working in research and development fields.

Parminder Chattwal, Amritsar

A Yes it is true that you can enrol for MA in some universities without any previous formal qualification through distance learning. The duration of these courses is 2 years and the minimum age is 21 years. Annamalai and Madurai University conduct an entrance test for admission to these courses. IGNOU www.ignou.org (Contact their nearest regional centres).

Annamalai University, Directorate of Distance Education, Annamalainagar (TN) http://www.tnuniv.ac.in/annamalai . Notification: April/May.

Bangalore University, Directorate of Distance Education, Jnana Bharathi, Bangalore (Kar). www.bangaloreuniversity.com Notification: July. Madurai Kamraj University, Directorate of Distance Education.

Madurai. Email: vcmku@yahoo.com / vcmku@rediffmail.com Notification: May/June.

Karnataka State Open University, Pavate Nagar, Dharwad. Email: vcksou@bir.vsnl.net.in Notification: May/June.

A The following subject combinations are not allowed in the Mains. To avoid inconvenience at a later stage, do check out for these combinations right in the beginning.

(a) Political Science & International Relations and Public Administration

(b) Commerce & Accountancy and Management

(c) Anthropology and Sociology

(d) Mathematics and Statistics

(e) Agriculture and Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science

(f) Management and Public Administration

(g) Of the Engineering subjects, viz., Civil, Electrical and Mechanical - not more than one subject

(h) Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science and Medical Sciences.

For an in-depth understanding of what it takes to get into the various civil services, how to tackle the Prelims and Mains, and the crucial Interview, you might like to consult "CARING’s Guide to Careers in Civil Services" published by Vision Books.

A For the record, the GRE general test has not been cancelled or restricted in any manner in India. The US Educational Testing Services has only barred Indian and Chinese students from taking the (2002 -2003) GRE subject test in computer science because of "security breach". This move was prompted by the "sharing" of questions by prospective examinees on the Internet despite signing an undertaking to the effect.

Those applying for graduate (what we call postgrad) programmes in computer science would be advised therefore to highlight their other key credentials instead.

In August ‘02, the Princeton, New Jersey-based ETS had ordered a temporary suspension the entire GRE in China, Taiwan and South Korea because of a similar security breach.

A To enhance your job prospects in the USA, you can enrol for the certified public accountant course.

The CPA is the American equivalent of our CA.

Although some institutions in India offer to coach you for this test (charging exorbitant tuition fees of course), you could directly contact the AICPA, 12011, Avenue of the Americas, New York 10036, and avail of the study material. Nevertheless, you will have to go to the USA to take the test.

Yet another value addition may be the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certification which can be pursued from India itself. You could directly enrol on the CISA website or at its regional chapters.

However, recently the ICAI has joined hands with the ICAEW, its counterpart in the UK, for mutual recognition of courses and degrees.

Also the Italian accounting body, the CNDC has come together with the ICAI through a similar agreement to strengthen its foothold in the EU.

It would also be a good idea to familiarise yourself with current accounting/finance-related software in Oracle Financials.

A Considering your interest in automobiles and IC engines, and the increasing prospects and scope of the automobile industry in India with so many new international brands having entered the fray, specialising in automobile engineering may be a good idea.

It may perhaps interest you to know that despite the overall decline of the manufacturing sector, the automobile sector registered a growth of 72 per cent, outperforming all other sectors in the last financial year.

While the other two fields, namely Aerospace Engineering and Robotics are hot fields in the West, presently the work essentially relates to R & D in India.

A The increasing production of milk and milk products in India has opened up lucrative career avenues for dairy technologists. These specialists can seek employment in dairy product manufacturing and marketing establishments in the public and private sectors. Milk co-operatives, and federations also provide ample scope.

The areas include collection, production and processing of milk, quality control and even the manufacture and marketing of dairy products like cheese, butter, ice-cream, mithai, chocolates, milk food and cream.

Amul, Mother Dairy and Milkfed are leading milk co-operatives in the country. There are several dairies and dairy development boards in the public sector where the pay and perks are as per government grades. In the private sector, Indian as well as international giants like the HLL, Cadburys, Dabur, Britania, Vadilal, Nestle, Glaxo and Smith Kline Beecham are some of the major employers that hire dairy technologists.

To begin with, dairy technologists are recruited as trainees and shift officers in dairy plants. They move on to become assistant managers and senior managers and even consultants to private enterprises. Besides production, dairy technologists are also preferred for marketing positions.

Incidentally, India also has the largest cattle population (with some 20 recognised breeds) in the world.