AUSTRALIA ASSURES SAFETY OF INDIAN STUDENTS

At least 22 Indian students have been attacked

Sep 17, 2009

Australia has allayed India's concerns over the security of Indian students and the quality of education given to them. The two countries also exchanged ideas on how to give a "forward oriented" thrust to the bilateral ties and the supply of uranium by Australia. This was conveyed to External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna when he met Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Foreign Minister Stephen Smith in Cairns, Australia, on August 7.

Speaking to reporters later, Mr Krishna said, he was very impressed with the assurances he was able to get from the Australian Prime Minister. Mr. Rudd, he said, has taken very seriously the issue of quality of education following complaints about the sub-standard quality in some Australian educational institutions with an intake of foreign students, including Indians. On learning of the physical attacks on Indian students, Mr. Rudd said, he tightened the relevant procedures, instructed the police to intensify patrolling, set up a task force in his office and also a helpline. The follow-up actions by the governments of New South Wales and Victoria, hosting big numbers of Indian students, were also outlined.

At least 22 Indian students have been attacked in Australia in the past three months which has threatened Australia's $18-billion education industry. Australia is home to over 95,000 Indian students.

Mr. Krishna also flew to Melbourne and Sydney where he had meetings with New South Wales Premier Nathan Rees, who assured him that firm action will be taken against the perpetrators of racist attacks. Rees also assured Krishna that inputs from the Indian community will be included in the action plan for international students.

The External Affairs Minister also met the Indian community representatives. The students demanded that an emergency fund should be created for refunding of the fees in case of closure of colleges. The students also complained of exploitation by unscrupulous agents who take fee in advance.

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