‘Return to native campaign’ by All India Professionals' Congress aims to reverse brain drain from J&K
Srinagar, Jan 10: In a bid to address the long standing challenge of brain drain from J&K, the Jammu and Kashmir Chapter of the All India Professionals' Congress (AIPC) launched the “Return to Native” campaign in the AIPC National Executive Meeting 2026 in Hyderabad in presence of AIPC Chairman Praveen Chakravarty, AIPC National Heads, State Heads, Secretariat office bearers.
The initiative was formally inaugurated by Chakravarty, said a press release. The campaign seeks to create a structured and outcome-oriented framework to encourage skilled professionals from J&K to return and contribute to the region’s economic and social revival. The official website of the initiative, www.returntonative.org, was unveiled at the event and is envisioned as a central platform for research, stakeholder engagement, and policy advocacy, it said.
Chakravarty said the campaign was aimed at converting intent into execution that is missing currently. “J&K’s biggest deficit today is not talent, but the ecosystem required to retain and productively deploy that talent. ‘Return to Native’ is designed as a strategic intervention to align policy incentives, private capital, and institutional support so that professionals see the region as a viable and competitive destination for careers and enterprise,” he said.
Sanjay Sapru, State Head of AIPC J&K Chapter explained the rationale behind the initiative, said decades of economic stagnation, limited corporate presence, and uncertainty had compelled thousands of skilled individuals to migrate. “The continuous outflow of doctors, engineers, educators, and entrepreneurs has weakened the socio-economic backbone of J&K. This campaign is a focused effort to reverse that trend through practical solutions rather than rhetoric as made by current regime,” he said. According to Sapru, the campaign is anchored around key pillars including promotion of entrepreneurship, investment in education and skill development, infrastructure creation, and policy reforms aimed at talent retention.
“We are proposing startup hubs, industry academia partnerships, IT parks, and a reverse brain drain policy framework that offers clear incentives and fast-track processes for professionals willing to return,” he added. The initiative also emphasises the importance of stability and predictable governance as foundational requirements for sustainable development. As part of its roadmap, the campaign plans to engage the Jammu Kashmiri diaspora through structured data collection, surveys, focus group discussions, and case studies of successful returnees, ensuring that future interventions remain evidence-based and results-driven.
Rahul Gandhi was the first and only politician who actually along with TATA and Mahindra visited Kashmir University for talent hunt during UPA government.
