Kashmiri expatriates proving their mettle outside

Kashmiri expatriates proving their mettle outside
Bilal Hussain
Bangalore, July 18: Young professionals from Kashmir working with multinational companies here believe the braindrain from Kashmir would prove favourable to the Valley when they return home with "great experiences and lot of exposure".
Bangalore, known as India's Silicon Valley, owing to its contribution to country's IT industry has over the years witnessed rapid economic growth. Offering great career opportunities, higher compensations and an atmosphere conducive to working, the city attracts youth from different states including J&K.
Abid Amin, a guy from Kashmir, who currently is on rolls of MetLife multinational insurance company said there are tremendous opportunities in Bangalore.
Although most of the Kashmiri expatriates contribute "little" at present to the Valley economy, they have high hopes about future. Bilal Ahmad Wani, a computer professional from Kashmir working with Satayam software company as senior software programmer, said, "I am here for the last more than five years. It was easy to get a job of my choice here, which indeed was difficult in the Valley."
According to him most of the educated youth from Kashmir have little opportunities in the Valley. "I wanted to be in software line and I tried all possible opportunities in Kashmir but all in vain," said Wani.
He said that hundreds of youths from Kashmir are working presently in Bangalore and many others have joined big companies in other states and outside India as well.
Most of Kashmiris are handsomely paid in the companies outside. "My present CTC is in five digits," said Wani.
The increase in labor force (skilled labor) over the years in Bangalore has been substantial. "People from Kashmir working here for MNCs have proved their metal," said Mohsin Masodi, a Kashmiri working for infrastructure company as a consultant.
Moshin said, "I completed my Master in Finance and Control from University of Kashmir and tried hard to get absorbed in Kashmir in some company but could not. Then I came here and got the job."