Issue of H-1B visas

Apropos ‘Despite mixed signals, India’s tech industry positive on H-1B visas’ (January 1), the H-1B visa programme has been a major fulcrum on which high-end technological innovations and progress in the fields of STEM rests in the US. Under the earlier administration of Donald Trump, though the approvals were low in the beginning, the percentage gradually improved and the approvals for H-1B visas under the subsequent Joe Biden administration were not very much different from the number of approvals during the later part of Trump 1.0., except for a significant hike in 2022.

Given that Trump had said that H-1B is a “great program” and that he is “a believer in H-1B” in an interview recently may be taken as an indication of his administration’s future policy stand during his second term.

Highly skilled Indian tech talent in the fields of STEM is almost indispensable for the technological innovation and progress of the US and no administration can afford to ignore the same and jeopardise the H-1B visa programme. Indian students should keep upgrading their specialised expertise in the fields of STEM.

Kosaraju Chandramouli

Hyderabad

Resourceful community

The five million Indian-American community has become one of the most influential groups in the US. While they may be just 1.5 per cent of the US population, Indian-Americans contribute $300 billion in tax revenues annually and roughly $450 billion in annual spending and they have been co-founders of 10 per cent of the Unicorns there. Sixteen out of 500 Fortune 500 companies are currently led by people of Indian origins. India has emerged as a net exporter of talent as the US has proven to be a land of massive opportunities. It has been a two-way street where both parties have benefited. President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s stand on H1-B visa has sent conflicting signals, which do not augur well for Indian IT firms, students and professionals. Trump must clearly spell out his government’s stand on this after January 20 to clear the air, as the US can only ignore Indians at its own peril.

Bal Govind

Noida

Farm productivity

Apropos ‘Protecting crops’ (January 1), the prosperity or growth of India hinges more on the agricultural sector than on manufacturing or the tertiary sector. The reason is not far to seek. Food, for instance, which is essential for the very existence of human life, is the output of the agricultural sector.

Hence, it is imperative that the country ensures that the lands that produce food crops in particular, not only generate marketable surplus for farmers but also use quality inputs (modern seeds, pesticides, etc) on a sustained basis. The Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health should work in tandem to streamline the technical aspects of regulating farm inputs and boost crop productivity. Quality, of course, is the watchword for growth.

S Ramakrishnasayee

Chennai