Relocating to India: Points to Ponder Before Making the Shift

chillibreeze writer — Anita Vinod

Have you been an expatriate all this while and are now thinking of relocating to India? Welcome to apprehension zone! Yes, the transition from being a Non Resident Indian to a Now Residing in India can be a harrowing experience. For an expat on vacation to India, it is an event full of thrills and joyous reunion. The guilt of being a tad unpatriotic by leaving your homeland for better prospects makes you overlook all things that are wrong about India. But now that you have taken the tough stance to relocate back home it’s not a vacation trip anymore! Based on my own experience, I have put together some vital things to ponder upon before you can even think of booking your tickets!

WHERE TO?
Up first is the Herculean task of zeroing in on the place to replant your roots. Which city? India’s economic surge has resulted in cities growing at a tremendous pace! Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune…and the list is growing. Modern facilities in accommodation, food, basic amenities, banking, hospitals, transport systems, shopping and entertainment add to a perky lifestyle. You won’t miss your Chanel or your Land Cruiser here, as most of the top international brands now find a place on Indian market shelves. For those seeking a quieter lifestyle, there are the suburbs or the smaller towns, closer to nature and less congested, yet, offering all the basic facilities. Of course, a major deciding factor would be your extended family but the most important one would be career prospects, especially for a young NRI.

CAREER PROSPECTS
India’s rapidly growing economy has created a job market with opportunities mushrooming overnight in almost every field in India. The presence of government organizations, big corporations, business houses and MNC’s has fuelled the demand for talent and expertise. With your international experience in tandem, you could land up with a dream job right here, in your homeland.

Finding it difficult to cope with the Indian system of working after having worked abroad for years? Well, you don’t have to. With up to date internet facilities, another area that is fast gaining popularity is working from home. A growing number of organizations are outsourcing quality services to many national and international clients for which you could be a contributor. From content writing to marketing to even online tuitions, you can carve a niche for yourself on the web from the comfy zone of your home!

For NRI’s gifted with business acumen and money to invest, starting one’s own enterprise is an enticing alternative. A careful study of the market in your vicinity could open up a variety of options. Combined with your experience abroad, you could be roaring your way to success by providing quality services often lacking here.

SCHOOLING
Children’s education and the right choice of school is another daunting task keeping in mind the vast difference in education systems abroad and in India. With a seemingly endless array of educational institutions available here, choosing the right one involves asking the right kind of questions. Should you opt for a school offering IB, ICSE, CBSE or a State Board syllabus? Residential or Day Boarding school? Do you play it safe and opt for tried and tested schools or try out the newer ones which promise a holistic approach? Would my child have to take up the local language as Second Language or are there other alternatives? These are some of the queries that need to be answered, apart from checking out the infrastructure, qualified teachers, teacher student ratio, modern teaching methodologies, co-curricular facilities and general standard of the school. Apart from the school itself, you would also like to consider its location and commutation to and fro. Most good schools have their own websites that make it a lot easier for you to decide.

HOME SWEET HOME
Finding the right place to set up home is yet another major concern. With the real estate boom, you are only spoilt for choice! From independent bungalows to state of the art apartments, you will definitely find one suited to your style, locale and budget. And, it’s all just a click away with websites offering ample information and interactive images. However, if you are of the cautious type and would like to spend more time perusing various options before investing on your dream house, you can easily rent a house. Other things you would like to check on are the facilities available in the locality, for instance, transport services, electricity and water connections, telephone and internet services, domestic help, supermarket, gym and play areas for the kids.

GETTING THE BALL ROLLING
So, with the job, school and a beautiful home figured out, you are ready to get the ball rolling right? Well, not exactly! There are those minor but important things that are part and parcel of life in India. You have to psyche your mind to adjust to these woes and learn not lose your cool simply because flying into a fit is not going to get you anywhere!

Basic facilities like electricity, water, telephone and internet connections can be quite unreliable. Learn to live with frequent power cuts.
Transport systems are not always as efficient and comfortable as those abroad. Do your homework on auto rickshaw and taxi rates to avoid getting fleeced off your money.
Domestic help may be unreliable and not as satisfactory. Be prepared for little squabbles on matters of punctuality and money. And beware of gossip! Professional agencies that provide excellent cleaning services are available but can be quite expensive.
Conceive yourself to be a good driver? Think again! Lane driving is not always followed here. Signals are often ignored. Overtaking is possible from any side! Inefficient road systems could mean long, snail-paced traffic jams. Come monsoon season, and all hell breaks loose with potholes.
They say that Man proposes and God disposes. But in India, sometimes it is the Government that disposes! Political issues can bring life itself to a standstill thanks to bandhs.
Acquaint yourself with Income Tax and Insurance rules and regulations. You are no longer part of a tax free world. Learn how to invest your money wisely, the Indian way.
Learn to live with pollution. Coming from countries where pollution norms are strictly adhered to, turning a blind eye to vehicular fumes, open garbage dumps and plastic everywhere can be very difficult but must be done.
Come to terms with an omnipresent ‘so what?’ attitude! You will find to your chagrin that quality is often compromised even though the prices are competitive.

Rethinking your decision of relocation after reading this? You don’t have to! Brush aside these few hiccups and India is a promising nation pulsating with the unique energy called Indian-ness. It’s a country where tradition strikes an amazing balance with modernity. Its potpourri of cultures, religions, languages, cuisines and festivals will bring back all the color and pomp that you would have missed during your stay abroad. You too can be a part of the vibrancy, vigor and vivaciousness that is India. After all, home is a place where you can grumble the most, but are loved the best!

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Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in August, 2011. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.

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—About our writer:

Growing up in multiple cities, teaching for 21 years plus a voracious reading habit has made me, Anita Vinod, a zealous writer! A graduate in Home Science and a B.Ed, I am a net-freak who is currently based in Kerala. Being an English teacher has put writing in the limelight, guiding students, writing/editing for magazines/websites and penning scripts for skits. Apart from articles, poems, letters to editors and blogging, I have done content writing for SEO.

Relocating to India: Points to Ponder Before Making the Shift

chillibreeze writer — Anita Vinod

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