What is it like for the businessperson who relocates to India who is accustomed to a 'Western' lifestyle? We offer a primer for your employees who are expatriating to India.

What is it like for the businessperson who relocates to India who is accustomed to a 'Western' lifestyle? The following highlights some of the major aspects of living in India.

Language

On the roads, smaller yields to bigger

More than 300 known languages are spoken in India, 24 of them by at least one million people. The official language of India is Hindi, spoken by about 30 percent of the population. There are 15 other official languages. Tamil is the predominant language of the south. In Kolkata, in the east, people speak Bengali. In Mumbai (Bombay), they speak Hindi and Marathi, and in New Delhi, Hindi and Punjabi.

English is designated an official “associate” language, but is the main language for business communication. However—as in any country—any attempt to speak the local language will be appreciated in social and business encounters.

With so many Indian languages and dialects, misunderstandings do occur. English is the principal language of business, but Indian businesspeople often will conduct “asides” in Hindi during a meeting. This is not intended to be exclusive or insulting to the non-Hindi speakers present.

Communication tends to be indirect. Make sure you have been understood. In particular, “yes” can mean “I understand,” but not necessarily “I agree.” Try to get a confirmation in writing.

Schools

Most expatriates send their children to international schools, where learning a local language is optional. In the major cities, there are a number of international schools accredited by international educational organisations, such as The Council of International Schools (CIS), the U.S.-based Middle States Association (MSA), and the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO).

There are also many excellent English-language private schools. Most schools’ curricula are based on the English language, although a number of United Kingdom-affiliated schools offer Hindi as a second language.

Bangalore has several international schools, including the Bangalore International School and the Indus International School (both with curricula based on a combination of what typically would be present in the British system), the Canadian School of India, and a Christian academy.

In Mumbai, most children of English-speaking nationalities attend the American School of Bombay. There are also several other international schools catering to students of German, Russian, and French nationality.

The American Embassy School in New Delhi accepts students of all nationalities. There are also schools in the German, Japanese, Russian, and French communities.

The English Medium Indian Schools, where a local curriculum is taught in English, such as Modern School and Delhi Public School, is an option worth considering for secondary students.

Some schools offer the possibility of on-campus dormitories for boarding students. Many of the most desirable schools have waiting lists; it is advisable to contact prospective schools as soon as transfer arrangements are decided.

Students applying for admission in upper grades are required to complete pre-admission examinations at some schools.

Students can participate in a wide range of extracurricular activities on campus, such as chess and film clubs, sports teams, debating, and dance societies. Transportation usually can be arranged.

Most young children are cared for at home by nannies, or ayah. Early education and kindergarten classes are offered at some international and private schools. Bangalore and Madras have a number of Montessori preschools in their neighbourhoods.

Cuisine

It is fairly easy to find most staple food items, but the quality tends to vary and the prices are relatively high. 'Western' items are found most often in specialty shops at premium prices. Until you can explore the options yourself, neighbours can be good sources of information.

Each neighbourhood has at least one small shopping area for basic household goods, although you probably will not find all your needs under one roof as you would with large supermarkets. Some small “supermarkets” have been established, but most have a limited selection. There are also general stores with service no longer common in the West, where you give your order to a counter clerk who assembles the order for you; you pay and collect it as you leave.

Specialised food markets and bazaars are scattered throughout the major cities, and vendors also travel throughout the residential neighbourhoods. If you plan to buy from these mobile vendors, do so early in the morning before the produce has been out in the sun too long. Some expatriates use the services of a meat wallah, who shops for meat and finishes butchering it in the home.

Driving

Driving in India is not for the fainthearted. All manner of vehicles, animals, and other obstacles share the roadways. The unwritten rule of traffic is that smaller yields to bigger. Thus, vehicles have right-of-way over pedestrians, and bigger vehicles have right-of-way over smaller ones. However, another unwritten rule is that the one who has the most to lose will yield.

Cows, which are sacred to Hindus, always have the right of way.

The safest way to traverse a typical congested Indian road is to drive very carefully. Allow plenty of time to reach your destination. Do not drive after dark—it is considered dangerous. Poor street lighting and sporadic power failures will make finding your way on unfamiliar roads even more difficult.

Almost all expatriates with families have their own car, and in many cases, also a driver. Some city dwellers are able to get by without a car, relying instead on taxis and the services of rented cars with drivers.

Lack of adequate parking is a problem, although in commercial areas paid parking is available.

Road conditions vary dramatically across the country. In the dry season, dust may reduce visibility; during the monsoon season, roadways can flood, bridges wash out, and dangerous sinkholes appear unexpectedly. Four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended if you plan to drive extensively throughout the country.

A few tips on local driving:

• Drive on the left side of the road in India and drive defensively. Roads and vehicles are congested, and vehicles are often in poor working condition.
• Roads are poorly marked, and street signs are usually only in the local language.
• The official speed limit is 40 km/h; however, it is rarely observed.

Obtain a copy of the road rules from the Regional Transport Office or the Automobile Association of India.

Safety and sanitation

Political tensions and terrorism

For many years, India has experienced instances of communal, religious, and inter-caste violence. Terrorist acts and heightened tensions between India and Pakistan significantly increased the security risks in the border regions within the states of Gujarat, Punjab, and Rajahstan, and the entire states of Jammu and Kashmir.

Foreign governments have issued specific advisories for the Kashmir Valley and surrounding mountains, which have been sites of terrorist activities and violent civil disturbances. Other areas of sporadic violence and civil disorder are Mumbai; Uttar Pradesh, along the India/Pakistan border; and the northeast states of Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, and Meghalaya.

Travellers should be aware of the potential for politically motivated violence and terrorism, especially in urban areas. Be cautious in the vicinity of government installations, tourist sites, or public events throughout India. Sporadic incidents of violence by insurgent groups have occurred, including the bombing of buses and trains.

Political rallies and demonstrations have the potential for violence. In response to potential violence, Indian authorities may impose curfews. Foreigners usually are not targets of violence but may be at risk as inadvertent victims.

Expatriates are advised to register with their home country embassies and monitor travel advisories and travel restrictions issued by the Indian government before travelling within the country.

Crime and home security

Petty crime, especially petty theft of personal property, is increasingly common in the cities.

Most expatriates’ homes feature high compound walls, windows and doors with metal grilles, and night watchmen at security gates. Apartment buildings usually have security services, the cost of which is included in the building society maintenance charges.

Security precautions at home are essential. Do not open the door to strangers or allow salespeople into your home, and keep valuables locked away. Obtain and check addresses and background of household staff, and keep a current photograph of each staff member on file.

For the working expatriate without a family, it is equally important to have staff at home for security reasons as well as for performing basic household tasks.

Public sanitation and health guidelines

Public sanitation in India is problematic. There are open sewers, insects abound, tap water is considered unsafe for drinking, fresh produce is sometimes contaminated, and there are no food-handling regulations for restaurants.

Only the best hotels and restaurants have western-style toilets and toilet paper. Many others have simple basins on the floor and bowls of water. Carry tissues when travelling outside the large cities.

For specific instruction on minimising health risks in your area of India, contact your embassy or consulate or local expatriate organisation.

General precautions to take include:

• All drinking water should be boiled for at least 15 minutes, then cooled and filtered. Ice cubes should be made from this water. Most expatriates have bottled or mineral water delivered to their homes for most kitchen uses.
• Dairy products are unsafe. Milk should be boiled for five minutes.
• Be careful of pork products because pigs feed in unsanitary places. Be cautious of freshwater fish because of water pollution; cook with water buffalo, mutton, chicken, and saltwater fish.
• All meats should be well-cooked to avoid tapeworm, trichinosis, and other diseases.
• Eat only raw fruits that you can peel, and only raw vegetables thoroughly cleaned and soaked in a chlorine solution of water that has first been boiled and then cooled.
• Household staff responsible for preparing food should be carefully supervised and offered periodic medical examinations.

Medical standards

Adequate to excellent private health care is available in Delhi and other major cities. Those who can afford to pay have access to well-equipped, modern facilities and highly-trained staff. In the more rural parts of the country, medical care is limited.

Private health care is widely available and used by expatriates. However, visitors should consider returning home for conditions requiring highly specialised or lengthy treatment.

Foreign medical insurance policies are not always valid in India. Before departure, check whether you will need supplemental health insurance that specifically covers overseas treatment and keep copies of your policy documents with you. There is no government health insurance in India for which long-term residents are eligible. It is recommended that you have health insurance coverage that covers treatment and health emergencies, including medical evacuation.

Your company should be able to provide you with information on health insurance available to you and your family. Discuss these coverage details with your company before departure.

Telephone and internet service

Local and international service

Telephone service is adequate to excellent in the cities, but may not be as reliable in rural areas. Service has expanded and improved in recent years, but heavy workloads for technicians may cause delays in repairs and installations. During the rainy season, landline service to remote areas often is interrupted.

Although India is working toward a national 10-digit numbering plan, the number of digits in local numbers varies from city to city. Fixed-line and mobile phone dialling procedures, area codes, and subscriber numbers are in a state of flux in many regions.

International telephone rates are coming down as Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) competes with private long-distance providers.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) is the national local and long-distance company, except in New Dehli and Mumbai where Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) is the regional provider. The Indian government also has issued licenses to many private companies to provide basic telephone service. Depending on your location, calling plans can be enhanced with digital services such as call-waiting and call-forwarding.

In many developing countries, mobile phones have overtaken fixed lines as the fastest growing means of communication. India is no exception. National and private mobile phone companies provide both CDMA and GSM cellular service, and pricing wars are benefiting consumers. Cellular coverage is most highly concentrated in the cities.

Internet connectivity

In the burgeoning high-tech sector, more than 100 private Internet service providers (ISPs) licensed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) operate in national, regional, and secondary markets.

It is easy to connect to an ISP using dial-up and broadband ADSL Internet connections in urban centres. Pre-paid and post-paid plans – billed hourly – or flat usage plans, are available. ISPs provide service at competitive rates and generally resolve problems quickly.

VoIP (Voice over the Internet Protocol) telephony is widely available for making international calls economically. The newest trend is wireless Internet access and web-to-mobile services via CDMA technology in the major cities.

Banking

India has an extensive banking infrastructure with national and local banking services readily available. Most major global banks now operate in India.

Most expatriates find it convenient to have a local account for day-to-day living expenses. Balances in checking accounts do not bear interest, but interest-bearing savings accounts are available.

International and local banks increasingly are offering their customers the option of online banking. Online banking offers several advantages over traditional banking, although at the present time transactions may not be confirmed instantaneously.

Online payment of utility bills, such as telephone and electricity, avoids the inconvenience—and long lines—often encountered at local utility offices.

Bank hours typically are from 10:00 to 14:00, Monday through Friday, and from 10:00 to 12:00 on Saturday.

The future

Because the foreign workforce has grown so rapidly, support services have been unable to keep pace. As a result, expatriate communities in India’s cities tend to be close-knit, due to the need for newcomers to rely on established foreign residents for information and assistance.

This scenario may change as local services develop. For the foreign businessperson experiencing India, the experience is likely to be unique, sometimes challenging, and potentially very broadening.

India’s job growth has affected companies worldwide. With an enormous population—about 1.08 billion, second only to China—it will be interesting to mark the long-term impact of foreign immigration, in diversifying industries, on India’s own overall economy.

November 2005

Ellen Harris is international product manager for Moving.com, Ridgefield, CT. She can be reached at +1 203 403 4007 or e-mail ellen.harris@monstermoving.com.

Reprinted with permission of Worldwide ERC®, from the November 2005 issue of MOBILITY.

Subject: Working in India, expatriates in India