On Reddit Post, Indians Answer Why They Prefer Life Abroad Over Returning Home

A recent Reddit post has led to a discussion among Indians living abroad, asking the loaded question: “What’s stopping you from returning to India?” The post, by a user based in the United Kingdom, has elicited numerous responses from expatriates. Some have provided concrete reasons while others have given emotion-laden factors.

In the thread, the OP starts by explaining their reasons to remain abroad, pointing at crucial aspects of life, including the availability of better infrastructure, people’s lack of judgment and improvement of the quality of life. They argue that though people pay a lot of money in taxes, they get in return paved roads, clean neighbourhoods, attractive libraries, and efficient healthcare and education among other necessities. They also point out good employment opportunities, flexibility in the balance of work and family life, sincerity of the population, and a relatively low level of crime, which can be so important for families with children.

Others contributed with additional reasons they prefer to remain outside their home country. While some expressed similar opinions to the OP, especially about public services and work-life, others seemed to have more complex reasons for not wanting to move back to India.

A user mentioned, “I guess there are many reasons why people don’t want to return back, including pollution, infrastructure, work-life balance, and tax returns. Family is the significant reason why many people come back.”

Another user said, “It isn’t fun being a woman in India.”

A third user mentioned two main reasons: the garbage scattered all over the place, used tissues, spit, faeces and similar unpleasantness and vehicular movement which involves reckless driving and dangerous overtaking and continuous and loud honking. The user mentioned that they would want to go back to the clean city of Pune with disciplined drivers.

A different Redditor said that they like efficient use of taxes such as for basic service delivery as opposed to spending them on election incentives. They appreciated the good governance, infrastructure, health sector, low level of corruption, educated populace, and standard of air and water in the current place where they live.

“I’m a woman and my family lives in Kolkata. Enough said,” read a comment.

The majority of the comments addressed various issues such as pollution, work-life balance, improved education and employment, corruption, social judgement, clean air and water, and pollution.