AISA is holding a function “Students’ issues:from here to where?”
On Sunday, 11th Oct 2009,
At Granville Town Hall, Granville, NSW [300 mtrs from Granville station]
Between 6-9 PM.
All students are invited.
Please RSVP to aisa.sydney@gmail.com
Visit: www.aisa.asn.au for info.
Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/03-10-09
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26111338-12332,00.html
“The Greens have called for an education commission to oversee immigration requirements, quality, monitoring and compliance, a parliamentary secretary for overseas students and an ombudsman. National Union of Students president David Barrow urged universities and colleges to follow the Australian National University and guarantee a bed to first-year students.” HES, The Australian Newspaper, dated 24th Sept, 2009.
We have been saying similar things for a while. Please look at the relevant items in my BLOG.
Will Hon Ms Julia Gillard look into it?
I hope so.
Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/24th Sept, 2009
I was extremely saddened to hear the news of an Indian student who had committed suicide in Melbourne recently.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/indian-student-commits-suicide-in-australia/519725/
Mr Gurjinder Singh was a student of La Trobe University, doing accounting. He was in Australia only for 3 months. From the newspaper reports, I read that he was depressed about not finding a job in Australia. As we know, international students are allowed to work for 20 hours a week.
He was in his early 20s.
I have been thinking about him ever since I heard about his death. I feel for him and his situations before he committed suicide. I feel for the grief and loss for his parents in India. I have been trying to analyse what went in his mind before he came to this extreme point and took his life.
What happened here? How can a person become so severely depressed within so short time after arriving in Australia? Why his flat-mates and class-mates did not know about his situation? Why nothing could be done to prevent this tragedy?
Obviously, a lot of people failed here in averting a tragedy of this nature.
As I see it, following things come to my mind;
1. his classmates failed in their responsibility by not noticing his situation and turmoil and doing something about it,
2. his flat mates failed in their responsibility by again not noticing his situation and turmoil and doing something about it,
3. his University’s support system also could not do much to prevent this tragedy [may be they did what was needed to done but we are not aware of it],
4. his close relatives could not do anything to prevent his death. A young man felt this desperate and committed suicide and close relatives did not have a clue of his situation! Was this young man pushed into coming to Australia and had lots of expectation from his relatives but he was not helped with the essential things ie money which he needed to succeed in Australia?,
5. the education agents in India who did not inform him about the situation and ground realities re the jobs and the required money for his tuition etc,
6. his University system which could not prevent such a devastating tragedy by informing him at the orientation time about the health matters/systems including the psychological health issues which he could have accessed . There are help lines available which are very useful and are known to prevent suicides. I recognise that his University might have informed him about all this at the time of orientation but he did not use the information. He could have gone to a GP. He had access to the health system in Australia as all students are required to have a health insurance. Alas, nothing of these happened!
7. I am sorry to say this but this young man also failed himself and his parents by taking this extreme step when he could have done many things to get him out of his situation. This could have been about calling help lines, speaking with his class mates/flat mates, speaking with counsellors, speaking with his parents and even returning to India if things were not going to change. Every thing would have been preferrable to the extreme step of committing suicide. A degree from a Uni in Australia and a possible PR in Australia are nothing when we compare them with the “Life”. By saying this, I am not minimising the grief/sadness which his near and dears ones are going through right now. I have a great deal of empathy with every one who is going through this grief but…….
Life is always full of challenges and we need to face the challenges rather than taking the self-harm steps. Most times, we can deal with them ourselves but some times, we would need help from others and we must seek it from them.
Parents and students must be aware of the possibility that a job may not be available in Australia. Arrangements for ongoing living expenses and tuition fees must be made before travelling to Australia. Aus Gov authorities in the relevant Embassy/High Commission must make it amply clear that students can work for upto 20hours/week but jobs in Australia can not be the main or the only source of funding the expenses during their stay in Australia.
To be honest with you, I believe that students should not come to Australia if they do not have a capability to arrange funding for their fees and living expenses without a job in Australia.
Depression is a common problem and people from all age groups, ethnicity and circumstances can suffer from depression. Indians are no exception. It is eminently treatable. No body needs to suffer without the help, support and treatment for it. We of course need to let others know what is going on inside us. Many a times, others would not know about the turmoil inside if we do not seek help, talk about it or let them know what is going on inside us.
Unfortunately, there is a stigma attached to the mental health issues and anecdotally, this may be more true in the Indian community.
In this regard, I admire the courage which was shown by Jeff Kennett [former Vic Premier], Andrew Robb [Liberal Front Bencher] and Geoff Gallop [ former premier of Western Australia] when they came out with their depression and sought help.
To prevent any loss of life in this manner, we all must show compassion and look after our friends, class mates, flat mates, relatives or any one whom we know if we find that they are having difficulties in these matters. We need to talk with our close ones and share with them the difficulties we are experiencing.
It does not help and it is not correct if we point a finger of blame, to the premier of Victoria, Mr John Brumby by making him responsible for this suicide as has been done by a non-student “leader” in Melbourne. This is ridiculous. This “leader” is talking nonsense and is playing useless politics. He should be ashamed of himself.
A very sad situation has happened and we all including the Gov agencies need to think about the preventive measures which must be in place to avert such deaths, knowing that International students are under lots of pressure, do not have the traditional support mechanism for them in Australia and some of them may not be able to cope with the circumstances. Schools, TAFE and Universities must review their orientation systems to make sure there is information on health including mental health issues in their orientation programmes.
The education providers must have a system of “student co-ordinators” who should have a close interaction with the students. Pastoral care is a service which is extremely essential in relation to International students.
State Governments must ensure that the education providers in their territories do have enough information on these matters in these programmes and have adequate pastoral care mechanism.
Indian associations must review what they can do to help Indian students when they are having difficulties in dealing with the situations/circumstances in Australia.
There is a significant role for the media in India and in Australia to take up the issue of mental health among International students. Many of them go through a very difficult environment. As Indian students do access the ethnic Indian media in Australia regularly, it can and should do a significant job by making people aware of the mental health and help system available in Australia. Kumud Merani [SBS Radio], Pawan Luthra [Indian Link], Rohit Revo [The Indian] and Dinesh Malhotra [Bharat Times] have the instrument which can be very effective in this regard. After all, we do have the great systems like LIFE LINE and BEYOND BLUE in Australia but this may not be known to our students.
We all have to work together to save lives of those who are going through a difficult time in their lives!
We all need to work together in all sorts of manners to help our students!
Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/23rd Sept, 2009.
Here is my Interview on SBS Radio-Kannada
Topic: Indians’ assault in Epping, Melbourne
Interviewer: Mr Chandra Devudu
Prof Sujit Pandit has sent me an email, suggesting that Indians living overseas should demand a rule change in India. This is about the OCI cards. An OCI card holder should not need to have a separate Visa for India.
Here is his email. The word USA should be substituted with Australia, NZ, UK or relevant countries.
Let us send this demand to our High Commissions, Consulates, Minister Mr SM Krishna [MEA], Minister Mr Shashi Tharoor [MEA] and Minister Mr Vayalar Ravi [NRI affairs].
Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/21st Sept 2009
————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Dr Pandit’s email……
Sujit Pandit to me
Our goal is to make travel to India less stressful and a matter of joy. The current OCI (Overseas Citizen of India)/PIO (Person of Indian Origin) rules are irrational and confusing that often cause hardship to the travelers.
The bureaucrats and politicians do not like to change any rules unless there is overwhelming pressure from the public. So, if you would like to change the ambiguous OCI/PIO rules please write to the Indian ambassador to the USA, the Consular General of India, the Prime Minister of India, the Minister of External affairs, The Home Minister and other civil servants and politicians in India. You may also write to the various Indian media and the Indian action, social and political groups. Please ask your friends to do the same.
If you want to write only a short paragraph then write the following or something like this:
‘When an individual has a US Passport and an OCI card, production of a Visa should not be insisted upon, because the evidence of a valid visa is implicit in the OCI card, which may be deemed to be a certification higher than the Visa itself.’
If you want to send a more elaborate explanation then send them my story:
From:
Sujit Pandit M.D.
2680 Lowell Road
Ann Arbor MI 48103
Express”]
[/caption
Mrs Big Bindi [Jayanti Natarajan] has raised too much fuss about Shashi Tharoor’s comments. Ashok Gehlot, CM of Rajasthan and Manish Tiwari have joined in. They are very upset with “cattle class” and “holy cows” comments.
Poor Shashi who is in Africa, has to say sorry. He is being distracted.
Mrs Big Bindi, please leave him alone as
UPA Gov ministers and Congress should devote more time in dealing with the pressing issues in India rather than wasting time on minor things. Look what a debacle India has been subjected to by China in the ADB recently. Even Japan voted in favour of China in regards to Arunachal Pradesh. Australia, SE Asians and Pakistan favoured China too.
Shashi Tharoor is an educated and intelligent person with a profile which many in Congress do not have. We need more like him in Indian politics. I remember him being interviewed on TV channels when he visited Australia a couple of years ago. He spoke so well. He knew how to communicate.
I also do not see anything wrong in it if he wanted to stay in a 5 star hotel at his expense. We all know now that he had travelled in economy class before the “Austerity stunts” became the currency in India.
I was also amused with the statement from BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy who has also jumped into the band wagon and said: “Tharoor has termed economy class in airlines as cattle class. (This reflects) the insensitivity of the minister. This tantamounts to (causing) deep injury to the self-respect and esteem of millions who travel economy class,”**
Are you kidding Mr Rajiv Pratap Rudy? This is not expected from you as you are an educated fellow and a good politician. You mean to suggest that people who travel in the “cattle class” will have a deep injury because Shashi Tharoor called the economy class the “cattle class” but would not have such injury if Shashi Tharoor did not call it a “cattle class”. For your info, I travel in “cattle class” and do not suffer any damage/injury to my self-respect. I continue to practise as a cardiologist in Sydney irrespective of whether I travelled in the “cattle class” or the “King class” last week end.
Brother Rudy, please give Indian public a break!
If you want more, you can go to TimesNow with Arnab Goswami who had Amit Verma, Jug Suraiya and some one named Tom Vadakkan [I presume he is from Congress party] in his programme. Tom Vadakkan made a gem of a statement ” Tweet is a lonely person and needs counselling” . Well done Mr Vadakkan!
It is about time that we get to the real jobs rather than getting entangled in “Austerity hysteria and stunts”. I hope the “Holy Cows” of Indian politics would start doing the right things.
Yadu Singh/Sydney/19th Sept, 2009
————————————————————————————————————————————————-
20th September, 2009
I now know that Tom Vadakkan is from Kerala and is a secretary of AICC.
Dr Yadu Singh
** Reported by IANS
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2009/s2687996.htm
Also, please have a look at other postings in this Blog.
Regards
Yadu Singh/Sydney/18th Sept, 2009
I wrote to Prof Pandit today and he emailed the following matter.
His email goes like……..
“Thank you for doing a useful service to the community.
I would like you to read my update too:
Updated Sept 17, 2009
OCI RULES CAN BE CHANGED
Following my e-mail message (a copy is attached below) about my aggravation at the Kolkata airport over the OCI card, I have received about 300 responses. I am absolutely overwhelmed and thankful to all those who have written. I had no idea how deeply the Indians all over the world feel about this issue. Most people were thankful to me for sharing my story so they can learn from my bad experience. The majority, about 90% of the responders was outraged at the lack of common sense and common courtesy of the immigration officials at the Kolkata airport. More than a dozen people have narrated their own horror stories, very similar and even worse than mine at airports in India when they arrived with an OCI card only, these are really heart wrenching stories involving small children and the whole family members undergoing incredible hardships. Others were alerted at the last moment by the airlines officials at the departing airport in the USA about the need to carry the visa sticker that may be in their old passport. Some were surprised that I had the problem because they have gone to India with just the OCI card and they were allowed to enter India without having to show their visa. Some assumed that the problem may be at the Kolkata airport and probably the corruption is rampant there. They suggested that the officers there might be looking for a bribe. Many were still confused about the rules of the OCI and have asked me for advice. Many others narrated the appalling treatment they have received at the various Indian consular offices.
About 10% of the responders said I got what I deserved at the Kolkata airport for not reading rules of the OCI card and for not following the rules strictly. They thought the officers were just doing their duties.
Some especially from England and Canada told me that they have PIO (Person of Indian Origin) cards and had never had to show their visa at the Indian airports. And the OCI is supposed to be the upgraded version of the PIO card. Go figure.
One person has written that for a family of five (three children) under the current OCI rules he has to carry fifteen travel documents when going to India (five old passports, five current passports and five OCI cards)
I am thankful to all who have taken the time to write to me.
I know it was my mistake for not taking my old passport with the visa sticker with me and I will never make the same mistake again; the main purpose of my mail was to warn my friends not to make the same mistake that I made.
But, then my friend Dr. Dinesh Patel from Boston pointed out to me that the rules CAN be changed and the bad/confusing rules SHOULD be changed. I think that is a great point. Rather than just accepting and following the bad rules and thus perpetuating them, we should try to change the bad rules. In addition because of the confusing name of the OCI and the false buzz about the “Dual Citizenship” many people make the same mistake as I did. When so many people make the same mistake in spite of the rules, then may be the system needs to be fixed. Confusing rules of OCI needs to be changed. The bad rules can only be changed if there is enough pressure from the public to the politicians and the civil servants. .
I believe, just like the persons holding a PIO card the OCI card holders should also be allowed to enter India without having to bring the old visa sticker every time. The fact is, whenever any one is granted his/her OCI card, he/she is thoroughly vetted and only then the OCI card is issued along with a life long visa sticker. Both go hand in hand. You cannot get an OCI card without a life long visa. I know that in spite of the puzzling name (Overseas CITIZEN of India) the OCI card is not a passport, right now we can not have both American (or Canadian or UK) passports as well an Indian passport But, the OCI card can be and should be the visa substitute. As far as the entry requirement to India the OCI card could act like the US Green card. Once you have it there will be no need to carry a separate visa ever.
When an individual has a US Passport and an OCI card, production of a visa should not be insisted upon, because, the evidence of a valid visa is implicit in the OCI card, which may be deemed to be a certification higher than the visa itself.
The other problem is the utter lack of common courtesy and competence at the various Indian Consular Offices. I have received more than 15 mails that detail their dreadful experiences at various Indian Consular Offices. These Consular offices are amateurish and incompetent. I myself had a horrible time trying to get my OCI card in Chicago. When I complained, there was no response. I can not even think about going back there to get my visa sticker transferred from my old passport to my new one, and what about when I get yet another new passport? This is a disgrace that the officials at the Consular offices are not trained to be courteous to their customers like real professionals.
We need to bring pressure on the politicians and civil servants to simplify the procedure and let the OCI card be the visa substitute. Please send this mail to others once again and may be some one knows an important person who will understand the problem and solve it. That will make travel to India a joy and not stressful. We also need to make the Indian Consular offices more “Professional”.
I am attaching a copy of my original e-mail:
MY DUAL CITIZENSHIP WOES: MY RECENT EXPERIENCE WITH THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT AT THE KOLKATA AIRPORT AND THE LESSONS I LEARNT
My advice to all my friends who hold an OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) Card and those who aspire to get one.
I am an American citizen. I also carry an OCI card (Overseas Citizen of India) since 2007.
On Saturday, June 20, 2009, I arrived at the Kolkata Netaji Subhas Airport from Detroit via Singapore, by Singapore Airlines (SQ 516) at 10:30 P.M.
I presented myself to an Immigration Officer (Mr. Biswas) for immigration clearance. I gave him my American passport and my OCI card. He demanded to see my visa from the Indian consular office. Unfortunately, that visa was attached to my old passport and I did not bring it with me.
I explained to him that I am sorry I forgot to bring my old passport but since I do possess a valid OCI Card that would automatically mean that I do also possess a permanent (life long) visa for India and there are proofs that I have traveled multiple times to India after I had received my OCI card.
Mr. Biswas detained me for two hours inside the airport and then he told me that he is going to allow me to stay in India for 72 hours and asked me to report to the Foreign Relations Regional Officer (FRRO) in the city within 72 hours. He kept my passport. During all that time I had no opportunity either to approach his OC (Officer in Charge) although I asked for it, or to contact my relatives who came to the airport to receive me and were waiting outside and had no idea why I was being held back or if I have even arrived.
Forgetting to bring my old passport was my own fault but I ‘forgot’ to bring it partly because I knew I have my OCI Card with me and I thought, that means something, I really believed that I am a citizen of India too. Why would a citizen also need a visa to enter his own country? I thought I have a dual citizenship for both the USA and India. Other wise, what is the difference between an ordinary foreigner and the OCI Card holder?
Next day was a Sunday, I called a friend in Ann Arbor who went into my house, got my old passport and sent me the scanned copy of my old passport and a copy of my permanent visa by e-mail.
So, on Monday I went to see Mr. Bibhas Talukdar, the FRRO. He hardly looked at the documents (the scanned visa) that I had with me he simply asked me to get my old passport by courier mail within another seven days. He appeared gleeful telling me that it is only out of “pity” that he is allowing me to stay in India for seven more days. He was totally unimpressed by either my status as a Professor Emeritus of the University of Michigan or my age (70+)
I called my friend in Ann Arbor again who then sent my old passport by FedEx. Three days later the passport arrived. Since I had to leave Kolkata for prescheduled visit to Bangalore, my niece took it to Mr. Talukdar. But due to lack of communication between the FRRO office and the airport immigration department my passport had not arrived at the city office even after 9 days. My niece had to go to the FRRO’s office three times once waiting until 6 P.M. still they did not have my passport. They only promised: “it will come soon”. At last, 12 days after my arrival, my niece got my passport.
From this painful and anxiety provoking experience I have learned a few valuable lessons:
1. The loud talk about “Dual Citizenship” for Indian Americans is just a political hoax.
2. The OCI card just does not have any value. It is just a piece of expensive junk. You still need a visa every time you travel to India whether or not you possess an OCI card. Only difference is that for the high price of getting an OCI card you will get a “life long ” visa. A 10-year visa is much cheaper.
3. When coming to India always consider yourself a foreigner and bring your visa with you, there will be no exceptions. Your OCI card is not a visa substitute.
4. In fact, you will probably be treated worse than an ordinary foreigner arriving without a valid visa. Because a foreigner especially a white Caucasian will at least be treated with courtesy and probably offered a temporary visa if there is no reason to deny it, but not you.
5. Since the word “CITIZEN” in the OCI card is the root cause of confusion, the name should be changed.
Please feel free to forward this mail to any of your friends who may benefit from my experience. Especially feel free to forward this to any influential politician or civil servant in India that you may know.
Sujit K. Pandit M.D.
Professor Emeritus
Department of Anesthesiology
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI
48109, USA”
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/17/2688266.htm
Mr Farrukh Dhondy is a UK-based writer/editor of Indian background. He was interviewed by the ABC AM team today [see the link above].
He is advising students and Indian Australians to retaliate and take law into our hands. Any sane person would see the futility of his argument. How are we going to achieve what we want if we go the direction recommended by him?
His advice to us and Indian students in Australia is totally inappropriate. It may even be crazy and irrational. It is not going to solve the problems.
I give following arguments against his advice:
1. Indians are a small population on numerical strength and can not be expected to win the retaliation game.
2. Indians are not going to become idiots like those thugs who bashed 3 Indians in Epping, Melbourne.
3. Students have come here to study, not to fight in retaliation which would cause more and serious troubles for them.
4. Taking law into our hands will itself be illegal and may end up sending us to jail.
5. Taking law into our hands will destroy any goodwill, Indian Australians have from the general Australian community.
6. Taking law into our hands will be totally counter-productive.
We reject his suggestions as irresponsible, insane, impractical and inappropriate.
We do have to understand the difference between retaliation and self-defence.
We have to find solutions to these problems within the systems of Australia and within the Laws of Australia.
Prime Minister Mr Kevin Rudd is right in advising the students to not take laws into their hands [see the link above].
I would categorise Mr Dhondy’s comments as ill-advised statements.
He does not live in Australia and would not know the situation in Australia.
We are parts of Australian society and we have to find solutions to the troubles in co-operation with other constituents of Australian society.
Let me re-state that the overwhelming majority of Australians are excellent citizens. They are as frustrated and angry with a miniscule fraction of our people who are racist and do not hesitate to harm others because of the race reasons. To me and other decent Australians, this tiny minority does not qualify to be called “Human”.
Mr Dhondy, please butt out from Australian troubles and issues. You are inflaming the situation.
Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/17th Sept, 2009
We are very concerned with the news of the assaults of 3 Indians in Epping, Melbourne last weekend. The perpetrators were abusing them with racist language in front of the Police as Mr Glenn Parker of Vic Police stated in his interviews on ABC.
This is not “ON’ and is completely unacceptable.
Australia is not a racist country but there is a miniscule proportion of people who hold racist views. We do not care what views they have about who ever but they must not be allowed to get away when they commit crimes based on racist views.
It is not important whether there were 5, 20 or 70 people who assaulted Indians in Melbourne but it is important that Indians were assaulted apparently because they were Indians. Some of them have sustained horrific injuries. These attacks must not be tolerated.
I believe that Australian authorities need to take some urgent steps to tackle this uncommon, unusual but increasingly worrying trend where some people are assaulted only because of their race.
We suggest following steps;
1. we should create and codify a new category of crime ie “race hate crimes” with harsher penalties
2. we start public education campaign on the lines of campaign against domestic violence ie “Australia says NO to racism and race hate crimes” ASAP. Through these campaigns via the media, we outline what damage the racism causes to others and what are the penalties if any one is caught doing racist crimes.
3. our police force do prompt investigation and commence prosecution of those who are involved in such crimes.
4. Minister of Immigration, Minister of Education and Minister for Foreign Affairs consider forming advisory council [s] which should include people from various backgrounds to advise them on matters relevant to these issues.
“Is Australia a racist country?” is a question which a lot of people have asked or are asking. My answer is still in negative and emphatically so but I do not doubt that there are some people [a very small fraction] who harbour racist views. I do not care about the views of these “Losers” but they must keep their views to themselves.
We need to act and must act urgently in this regard.
After all, it is the image of Australia and “Brand Australia” which are at stake if we do nothing.
Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/16th September, 2009
This email was sent to me by Rajesh Pandey who is a great guy from our community. He is based in Sydney. The behaviour of the Indian officials with this Professor from USA made me sad. It also raised concerns/questions about OCI cards. I hope we can hear from the Indian Consulate, Sydney about the OCI card and its usefulness.
I reproduce the content of the email.
This email reads as……..
“Indian Immigration!
Horror Of Dual Citizenship With India
MY DUAL CITIZENSHIP WOES:
MY RECENT EXPERIENCE WITH THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT
AT THE KOLKATA AIRPORT AND THE LESSONS I LEARNT
My advice to all my friends who hold an OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) Card and those who aspire to get one.
I am an American citizen. I also carry an OCI card (Overseas Citizen of India) since 2007.
On Saturday, June 20, 2009 , I arrived at the Kolkata Netaji Subhas Airport from Detroit via Singapore , by Singapore Airlines (SQ 516) at 10:30 P.M.
I presented myself to an Immigration Officer ( Mr. Biswas ) for immigration clearance. I gave him my American passport and my OCI card. He demanded to see my visa from the Indian consular office. Unfortunately, that visa was attached to my old passport and I did not bring it with me.
I explained to him that I am sorry I forgot to bring my old passport but since I do possess a valid OCI Card that would automatically mean that I do also possess a permanent (life long) visa for India and there are proofs that I have traveled multiple times to India after I had received my OCI card.
Mr. Biswas detained me for two hours inside the airport and then he told me that he is going to allow me to stay in India for 72 hours and asked me to report to the Foreign Relations Regional Officer (FRRO) in the city within 72 hours. He kept my passport. During all that time I had no opportunity either to approach his OC (Officer in Charge) although I asked for it, or to contact my relatives who came to the airport to receive me and were waiting outside and had no idea why I was being held back or if I have even arrived.
Forgetting to bring my old passport was my own fault but I ‘forgot’ to bring it partly because I knew I have my OCI Card with me and I thought, that means something, I really believed that I am a citizen of India too. Why would a citizen also need a visa to enter his own country? I thought I have a dual citizenship for both the USA and India . Other wise, what is the difference between an ordinary foreigner and the OCI Card holder?
Next day was a Sunday, I called a friend in Ann Arbor who went into my house, got my old passport and sent me the scanned copy of my old passport and a copy of my permanent visa by e-mail.
So, on Monday I went to see Mr. Bibhas Talukdar , the FRRO. He hardly looked at the documents (the scanned visa) that I had with me he simply asked me to get my old passport by courier mail within another seven days. He appeared gleeful telling me that it is only out of “pity” that he is allowing me to stay in India for seven more days. He was totally unimpressed by either my status as a Professor Emeritus of the University of Michigan or my age (70+)
I called my friend in Ann Arbor again who then sent my old passport by FedEx. Three days later the passport arrived. Since I had to leave Kolkata for prescheduled visit to Bangalore , my niece took it to Mr. Talukdar . But due to lack of communication between the FRRO office and the airport immigration department my passport had not arrived at the city office even after 9 days. My niece had to go to the FRRO’s office three times once waiting until 6 P.M. still they did not have my passport. They only promised: “it will come soon”. At last, 12 days after my arrival, my niece got my passport.
From this painful and anxiety provoking experience I have learned a few valuable lessons:
1. The loud talk about “Dual Citizenship” for Indian Americans is just a political hoax.
2. The OCI card just does not have any value. It is just a piece of expensive junk. You still need a visa every time you travel to India whether or not you possess an OCI card. Only difference is that for the high price of getting an OCI card you will get a “life long ” visa. A 10-year visa is much cheaper.
3. When coming to India always consider yourself a foreigner and bring your visa with you, there will be no exceptions. Your OCI card is not a visa substitute.
4. In fact, you will probably be treated worse than an ordinary foreigner arriving without a valid visa. Because a foreigner especially a white Caucasian will at least be treated with courtesy and probably offered a temporary visa if there is no reason to deny it, but not you.
Please feel free to forward this mail to any of your friends who may befit from my experience. Especially feel free to forward this to any influential politician or civil servant in India that you may know.
Sujit K. Pandit M.D.,Professor Emeritus, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan“
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
I have sent a copy of this email to Indian Consulate, Sydney. They may consider about enlightening Indian Australians re the value of the OCI cards. There are OCI card holders in Australia and they would be interested in this matter.
Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/11th Sept, 2009
The stories of the Flying school are known to all. These were covered in SMH, The Australian and ABC [Four Corners] recently.
I met a couple of them today, Sunday, in my office.
We all need to know that they came to Australia to train as pilots and return to India. They were not interested in the “PR” here. They had a vision about their career but it did not go according to their plans.
We all know that Vocational Education, Training Accreditation Board [VETAB] has done an enquiry and taken some action. Dept of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations [DEEWR] has created some confusion by circulating a document about this school. I was sent this document by the Indian Consulate, Sydney recently. I already had this document as it was sent by a student a few days ago, telling something contradictory.
It is not our concern whether this school is registered or de-registered. VETAB and DEEWR can sort this out themselves.
VETAB has its role only up to the registration or lack of registration based on the training standards or lack of it. That is what VETAB is saying. They say that further actions have to be taken by other agencies. These are Fair trading Dept, DEEWR/ESOS and Australian courts.
I think it is not a correct view.
VETAB and DEEWR, both, have a duty of care and have a moral/legal responsibility to to help students in getting a fair treatment because,
1. students came to Australia, knowing that these agencies would look after the quality issues and standards,
2. students had an expectation of fair dealing from these agencies when they complained,
3. students had complained to VETAB/DEEWR well before they either left the school or forced out of the school.
Students complained to these agencies in 2008 but not much was done except passing the buck between these agencies. VETAB became serious only after we and students met Hon Mr Peter Primrose, Hon Ms Helen Westwood, Hon Ms Verity Firth, Minister of Education’s senior advisers and others in April/May 2009.
We ask;
1. that VETAB/DEEWR get involved actively in the matters of these students and put sufficient pressure on this school to resolve the matter quickly.
2. that VETAB/DEEWR encourage the school to use the services of a suitably trained mediator/conciliator to help resolve the problems.
These students are going through a very difficult time in Australia. Some of them have left Australia and others are still here.
We want the VETAB/DEEWR to know that we are willing to be the bridge between the school and the students. We deal with them regularly and know how difficult it is for them. We do however admire them for their resolve to fight against the injustice.
Injustice, they have suffered undoubtedly. We will fight along side them, no doubt because it is the right thing to do.
They deserve a “Fair GO” from VETAB/DEEWR/ESOS/Australian media.
VETAB/DEEWR/ESOS, Please act fast!
Would the ministers in charge of these bodies [Hon Ms Verity Firth and Hon Ms Julia Gillard] please look into the plight of these students?
Dr Yadu Singh/06-09-09
Dear AISA and FISA leaders,
We ask that you;
1. work together,
2. interact, communicate and co-ordinate with the us [Indian community] as we are also a significant stake holder,
because you would have a better results for the international students if you follow these principles.
We ask you to please;
1. stay away from those who have a conflict of interest in the students’ matters,
2. be aware of the agenda of those so called “leaders” who are directly benefiting from students related matters,
Our Indian students need the help, support, encouragement, mentoring and leadership which can be provided if we all work as an effective and efficient team.
They have a right to have a quality training and freedom from exploitation. They have paid the money for it.
We can do it and lets do it.
Dr Yadu Singh/-6-09-09
Dear DEEWR authorities
After the collapse of the Stirling College in Sydney, we understood that these students were going to be placed in alternative colleges within 28 days. This was the promise which was made by ACPET.
More than 28 days have passed but the promise has not been fulfilled. We further understand that their matter is now with DEEWR/ESOS.
These students are desperate, frustrated and disappointed because;
1. their money has been taken but they have not received the appropriate training,
2. there is uncertainty about their training and future,
3. there is uncertainty about the plan of action by the DEEWR/ESOS.
We are worried that this desperation may go out of hand for some students. They have invested a big amount of money in their courses and things are going out of control.
We ask DEEWR/ESOS to help these students quickly;
1. by acting speedily in arranging an alternate placement of all students including students of community welfare in Sydney/NSW.
2. by helping these students get the certificates, transcripts and other relevant documents/records from the administrators of this college
3. by doing everything to look after the health and Visa needs of these students until the mess is sorted out.
4. by nominating a “Nodal person” from DEEWR to deal with the matters of the students of the failed Stirling college.
5. by refunding the full fees under Tuition Assurance Scheme if alternate placement is not possible.
Students of community welfare chose Sydney as the place to have their training. The alternate placement must be in Sydney. Some of them have their jobs in Sydney [for the entitled hours as per the the Visa conditions].
We request Minister Ms Julia Gillard and NSW Premier, Mr Nathan Rees to please direct the relevant people to act in a speedy manner in these matters.
Dr Yadu Singh/06-09-09
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We have a great admiration for Mr Amitabh Bachchan AKA Amit Ji. I have even more admiration for him because “CHHORA GANGA KINARE WALA” is from Allahabad and I am from Banda which is the adjascent district in Uttar Pradesh. He has some relatives in Banda too. I was in class 6 or 7 when he visited Banda. I was a kid then but I remember this very well. He visited a school called “Arya Kanya Intermediate College, Banda” whose principal was Mrs Indira Rajan who I believe is his relative. The function was huge and I remember almost whole Banda district [few lakhs] came out to see him. That is how popular he is!
Amit Ji is popular all over the world. He is an icon and we all are genuinely proud of him. We were very happy to know that he was going to be awarded a “Doctorate” by a Queensland University but unfortunately he could not accept it. We understood his reasons. We even agreed with him then. We know he is a great man and his heart beats for our great motherland, India and its people, irrespective of where ever they live.
Indian international students have chosen Australia for their training/education and we have around 97000 students in Australia. They are spread around the country but most are in Melbourne and Sydney. They have several issues and some of them have been assaulted/robbed. Things have quietened down to a large extent but their problems have not disappeared completely. Some of our Indian students have to go through very stressful times which could be due to so many issues. It is often not very easy to find jobs here either. Worst of all this is the fact that some of our own Indians exploit them by under-paying and sometimes, not paying them at all. Some of these rascals then try to project themselves as the “leaders” or “NETA JI”. On top of all this, it is not unusual to find out that the school they were in has gone out of business, leaving them in lurch. They thus end up in a hopeless situation. It is these times when they need all the help they can get.
I should know their predicament as I am a medical practitioner and have been involved in providing such support. Some of the students of a Flying School in Australia are having a horrendous time. I have been with them, sometimes right up to midnight, talking, counselling and keeping them in a positive frame of mind. Their stories are indeed heart-moving. We are working through the system here which, akin to the system in India, some times does not work fast enough.
To be able to help our students in all sorts of situations and to provide the emergency assistance, we need “DHAN” or money. While we can collect some money from ourselves which is what we did when we were requested by the Indian Consulate to help arrange accommodation for the relatives of Mr Rajesh Kumar[Petrol Bomb victim in Sydney], we need lot more money to do these things effectively. That is where we need a generous help from every one in Australia and India. Some of this money, thus generated, could be used for something like “India House” which would not only function as the centre for the social/cultural activities for Indian Australians but also as the place for emergency accommodation for those who are in desperate need for such help.
It does not have to be money only. It could be the help in the form of their presence in a function, encouraging Indians to open their heart and purse. While “purse” is the right approach for our Indian Govt of PM Mr Manmohan Singh which would allow the Indian Consulate to have some money to help the students, the “Heart” would be sufficient for our Icon, Amit Ji.
It would be wonderful and helpful if Amit Ji were to agree to visit Australia, not only to take the “Doctorate” but more importantly, to participate in the Indian community functions in Melbourne and Sydney to help generate money for “Indian students’ Emergency Assistance and Benevolent Fund”.
Knowing Amit Ji for what he stands for, I am quite hopeful that he would respond quickly and positively.
Amit Ji, we need your help, counselling and encouragement!
We hope you would not disappoint us!
Dr Yadu Singh
Sydney, Australia
Dear Indian community leaders in Sydney
With the exposure of rorts/scams through the Australian media recently, a significant damage has happened to the image of our community. We can not be happy about it as it is about us.
For obvious reasons, we will have to do something about it.
A beginning has to be made to mend/repair the harm to the image and standing of out community.
I propose that;
1. we do not encourage the participation of those members of our community who are known to be involved in the exploitation of students or are parts of the scams/rorts, in the social functions/gatherings.
2. we do not support the business owners who fall under the category 1.
3. we have a meeting of community minded people and those who have impeccable integrity with good reputation soon. I propose the UIA president to preside this meeting.
4. we identify those people quickly who are operating as the leaders but have a clear conflict of interest in those matters and ask them to take a back seat.
5. we help establish the system which is there to help our students and other people when they are in desperate needs for the help. This should include the establishment of a Benevolent Fund.
6. we support UIA to grow and become an effective organisation by discussing, debating, reforming by bringing out the required changes. UIA Constitutional review is long overdue.
7. we encourage UIA to become a more open and inclusive organisation by co-opting well-meaning and capable people from outside UIA in its committees.
8. we take a stand against the rorts/scams and ask Australian Gov authorities to stamp out these activities quickly.
9. we start identifying people with leadership qualities and help them reach the places of influences including political offices ie MLAs/MLCs/MPs.
10. we re-energise the leadership by taking a back seat voluntarily if we have been leaders for a long period and have not been contributing meaningfully and encourage others with abilities to take the leadership roles in our associations.
11. we work actively to promote the pan-Indian identity of Indians and discourage the regional identities in Australia.
12. we do everything to promote a better understanding/integration among Indian Australians with themselves and with Australian community in general. The distrust has to to go.
13. we work effectively and collaboratively to encourage SBS TV to have the programmes on India/Indian people, based on our numbers, as is the case with other communities.
14. we and Indian Govt Missions work collaboratively to have a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in a prominent place in Sydney and Melbourne.
Let the seniors guide us in our goals!
The community has to grow and we have to grow with it!
Let the debate begin!
Kind regards
Dr Yadu Singh
Sydney/04-09-09
Community members will be able to write letters, suggesting what our leaders should or should not do.
Hello every one!
We all know what was happening and who was doing what in regards to the International Indian students. We know about the rorts/scams. We know how our students were exploited by many including Indian people. We know how they are having a horrible time after some of the schools have closed down or about to close down. There is a general uncertainty around them. It is a very difficult time for them.
Indian Australians have had a great reputation for their standards and conducts. Recent exposure of the scams/rorts in regards to international education has undermined our reputation to some extent.
We all know that the overwhelming majority of our community members are decent people with impeccable character. After a conference recently, I and some of my friends went out with some of our Australian friends. We had the usual banter but the discussion did go to the students’ problems. Someone did mention that they were surprised with the rorts/scams involved in the international education and our people. These comments were quite mild and did not make me feel targeted. They were all friendly people.
When I returned home, I did think about what was said. It is obvious that our reputation has had a hit. Out professional people ie doctors, accountants, lawyers and bankers and also business people are the ones who will probably suffer to some extent.
We do have to take a stock of the situation and do have to do something about it too.
Many things can be done but my suggestions are listed here.
1. We make our voices loud and clear about our condemnation of rorts, scams, rorters and scammers.
2. We demand from the Australian and Indian authorities to deal with these issues with a heavy hand and stamp out such activities.
3. We do not associate with those who are involved in rorts/scams socially or in business matters. Most of us have a fairly good idea who these people are.
4. We ask our Indian Gov agencies in Australia to not associate themselves with these people, directly or indirectly, in any shape or form. They must remain Persona Non Grata.
5. We demand from the Indian Media to not support/promote or do business with people who are involved in rorts/scams. The community and the media have to work together to cleanse ourselves from the activities of some of us who do not have a qualm about doing anything to make money.
6. We start questioning our leaders about what they are doing and be willing to help them in a constructive manner.
7. We expect from the Indian media to question our leaders about their productivity, vision and “conflict of interest”. Shonky leaders need to be exposed, discouraged and excluded.
8. We support the largest Indian association [UIA] after it has set its house in order and reformed itself.
9. We encourage our people by recognising their work, commitment and genuineness and not criticise them for the sake of just criticism. Constructive criticism is good but we need to chip in with our support too.
10. We promote our pan-Indian identity vigorously, instead of getting ourselves too much into our regional Indian identities.
11. We do some genuine charity work for general Australian issues/projects to make a statement that we are as Australian as anybody else.
12. We network effectively among ourselves and general Australian community in regards to issues which are of significance to all of us, not only as Indians but also as Indian Australians.
The Indian Australian community has to show leadership. We have a challenge and this is about our name, image and reputation in this country.The time has come for us to stand up and be counted for the challenge.
Regards
Dr Yadu Singh/08-09-09
Dear friends
I have been thinking about it for a while. It moves me to meet students with difficulties. It saddens me to see how some of them face serious exploitation. It saddens and infuriates me to see that some of our Indian businesses exploit them. I consider such behaviour to be the lowest of the low.
They suffer exploitation sometimes in their schools too. Sometimes, they can not find jobs and do not have enough money. Then, of course, some students have accidents or are robbed of their belongings. It is not uncommon that some of them get into a situation when they just do not have any money!
One example will be sufficient to illustrate what we are facing and will continue to face in future too. As you would have known, Rajesh Kumar was injured in Sydney by a Petrol Bomb attack a few months ago. He had no relatives in Sydney. His flatmates were the only ones who were there for him. After this news reached his family in India, his maternal uncle had to come to Sydney to look after him during his treatment at the hospital and at a rahab facility. His maternal uncle had some money but it ran out pretty soon. Sydney motels are very expensive and can not be the place for a long term accommodation. Knowing their desperate situation, the Indian Consulate urged us to help in finding an accommodation which we did with the help of some of our friends. This is just one example and there have been others.
There would always be some situations when they need help from all of us. We need a mechanism to be able to provide the emergency assistance to Indian students.
My suggestion is that we establish an “Indian students’ emergency assistance and benevolent fund” which should be governed by a board of 15 people and should be chaired by the Indian High Commissioner.
The board members must be those who have impeccable integrity and are of good character.
The contribution to this fund should come from;
1. Established Indian Australians
2. Indian Gov agencies
3. Australian Gov agencies
4. Schools and Universities
5. Indian students.
Fund raising can be done in the following manner;
-Every students must contribute a Small amount of money annually through their schools.
-Established Indian Australians should take part in the functions for fund raising.
-Schools and Universities should contribute some money for this purpose.
-Indian High Commission and Consulates should contribute some money and should help in fund raising by participating actively in such events.
-Indian Gov [Ministry of NRI affairs] and Aust Gov [International Education Australia “IEA”] should contribute some money.
-UIA should contribute some money from its takings from its fair.
-Indian media [Radio and print] should actively promote/encourage the fund-raising.
UIA is our most important organisation. It has quite a large number of great people in its Governing Council. It should take an active leadership role in this matter. UIA is a tremendous organisation with vast capacity and abilities which are yet to be fully tapped.
We should get the “Fund” registered as a charity which will allow people to claim the donations/contributions as Tax-effective contributions.
We will need to define the criteria which will guide the disbursement of the assistance.
There is no doubt that we need something like this fund. Indian Australians are doing well in Australia. We ought to get involved in this activity. Students’ bodies like AISA and FISA will need to be involved too.
I also believe that great Indians like Mr Amitabh Bachchan and Mr AR Rahman can do a tremendous job if they agree to help us in our fund-raising functions. I know that they would be willing to do this but someone has to approach them for us.
My ideas are not the only right ideas. Let us share your ideas.
I am actively involved with the troubles of some of the Indian students in Sydney. Many other Indian Australians are also doing what they can do. I have had lots of interactions with ex-students of a Flying school. Their stories are heart-moving. They came to Australia to train as pilots and then return to India to take up jobs with the airlines there. Some had jobs lined up with King Fisher airlines. Everything was going well until sometime later when they had some serious troubles in their training. The complaints were made to the relevant authorities but not much seems to be happening. Some of them have paid full tuition fees but have not received the required training. It was hoped that their problems would be resolved with the intervention of DEEWR/VETAB but that has remained a “hope” only.
We also know the stresses and troubles of the students of Sterling college, Sydney and some other schools in Melbourne and Sydney. They are dealing with Australian Council of Private Education and Training [ACPET] and DEEWR but the progress has been slow so far.
Some students suffer exploitation at the hands of the owners of the schools and the employers, some of whom have been known to pay below-award wages, mostly as cash and sometime, not paying anything at all. The worst of all these is the fact that some employers are of Indian background.
Indian students, no doubt, have many genuine problems and exploitation is the name of the game in regards to students.
If we, the long term resident Indians have the same issues, we would be able to fight against these matters by approaching the relevant bodies/institutions or taking the legal recourse.
The same avenues for the redressing of the problems are open to Indian students but they will remain options only on paper.
Many Indian students do not have access to the money which would be needed to mount a legal challenge in a court as the legal fees are very high in Australia. Also, the opposite parties will invariably have more money or “Financial might” which can be misused against the students. I have seen the clear examples of the misuse of financial might in some cases recently.
One student from India had a situation of this nature. The school owner did misuse the financial might but we could not do much.
Students have several problems and will continue to have problems. Providers and consumers will continue to have problems and conflicts re services, training, fees and exploitation.
International education generate $15.5 Billion for Australia. Indian students do so in the tune of $2.75-3 Billion. International education is the third largest source of earning for Australia.
Australia should look after the “Hen which gives the golden eggs” by doing everything which will encourage the students to keep coming to Australia and have a generally happy experience which is free of exploitation.
We have thought about these issues seriously. We can not find any other option except the establishment of the “International Students’ Ombudsman”.
It is about time that the managers of International Education Australia [IEA] put their thinking caps on and start the process of setting up the “International Students’ Ombudsman”.
Dr Yadu Singh
Sydney/04/09/09
http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/thelostmaven/entry/first-class-ministers-third-class
http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi/entry/nuclear-republic
http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi/entry/are-we-losing-the-race
http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi/entry/chinese-checkers
http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Globespotting/entry/lessons-for-the-mea
http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi/entry/sock-it-to-oz-where
Please do a google on “Dr Yadu Singh” for more info.
Thanks
Information
Indian Consul General’s Community Committee on Students’ Issues, Sydney, NSW was formed at the Indian Consulate on 6th April 2009. It did intensive work and completed its task in a very efficient manner. After accomplishing its mandated task, it dissolved itself at the end of June 2009 and communicated this to the Indian Consulate on 1/7/09.
The committee had Harmohan Walia,Vish Viswanathan, Shubha Kumar, Stanley D’Cruz and Dr Yadu Singh as its members. I was its co-ordinator.
This committee had done following activities;
#met students numerous times.
#organised a students’ forum on 16th May at Strathfield.
#co-organised a students’ forum with UIA in Strathfield on 6th June.
#arranged help to a woman student who was a victim of domestic violence.
#arranged help to 2 women students who were stalked by another Indian co-worker.
#arranged meetings with minister of education, NSW and her senior advisers and students from an aviation school-Work in progress.
#arranged a meeting with the president, NSW upper House [Mr Peter Primrose] and Ms Helen Westwood MLA and students.
#arranged meeting of an aviation school student with consul General [this student gave him his papers].
#arranged a meeting with a community minded lawyer and aviation school students.
#met the mother of a student of an aviation school. This lady’s husband had died only 4 weeks ago due to the serious stress involved in losing the money with the school in Sydney without the required outcome.
#arranged and participated in TV coverage of students’ issues on Channel 7, 9, 10, SBS TV, ABC TV, and Bloomberg.
#participated in the coverage on ABC radio, SBS radio, SBS Hindi radio, 2UE, JJJ, Indian Link radio, Radio UMANG, 2GB radio and SBS Kannada Radio.
#arranged talk-backs on these issues on SBS radio and Radio UMANG [98.5MHZ, Fridays,8-9 PM]
#participated in coverage on SMH, The Australian, Daily Telegraph, other newspapers and AAP.
#participated in the coverage on Indian newspapers in Australia [The Indian, Indian Link, Indus Age, The Indian Sub Continent Times, Indian Down Under].
#participated in TimesNow, NDTV, CNN/IBN, Headlines Today, AajTak and other Indian TV Channels.
#participated in the coverage on main Indian newspapers and PTI.
#involved with some top-grade Australian media programmes with wide audience in getting students’ issues covered.
#arranged funds for the accommodation for the relatives Mr Rajesh Kumar [the petrol bomb victim from Harris Park] within 24 hours.
#met commander Robert Redfern , Parramatta Local area Command of NSW Police several times.
#did what we could do to persuade/help the students when they were on the Harris Park streets for 3 nights.
#participated in the community leaders’ meeting with chairman, Community Relations Commission [CRC] at CRC HQ
#participated in a CRC organised meeting with Indian students at Parramatta RSL.
#participated in the community leaders’ meeting with the Premier, Mr Nathan Rees
#Met Indian Consul General and Consul several times
#helped a prominent Indian TV channel with a documentary on true situation in Australia. One of us [Yadu Singh] was the citizen Journalist.
#discussed and formulated the strategy to solve the problems of our students.
#submitted our strategy to the NSW task force and other relevant authorities.
#provided leadership in the matters relating to Indian students.
#gave our after hours and week-ends for students’ work and provided pastoral care to the needy students.
#provided/facilitated medical help to the needy students/their family members.
#met the visiting Indian journalists at the Consulate.
The committee members were all hard-working people with top-grade integrity. They did not have any conflict of interest in the matters relating to Indian students. None of them were involved in the students’ placement in a school [after taking a commission], running of any such school or running of any business which could have a potential conflict of interest in any manner.
All members worked with full dedication, cohesion and team feeling without any undermining of one another. This itself is a rare thing for an Indian group. We are proud of our work and ourselves.
We appealed to every person from Indian background to stay away from any leadership role if they were involved in any activity which did/could create a conflict of interest in these matters but we did not succeed in this matter.
We raised our voice forcefully against the exploitation of Indian students by some Indian employers.
We also appealed to the Indian newspapers and Radio programmes to ask questions from every leader [on students’ issues] about their involvementin any activity which created a conflict of interest in those matters. We suggested that the media should start with the questions on conflict of interests when interviewing those leaders.
Dr Yadu Singh
Co-ordinator
Reply to: singhyadu@gmail.com
PS: The committee had completed its task and dissolved itself at the end of June 2009 by informing the Consulate officially on 1/7/09.
No doubt, our students have several significant issues and these issues have been raised with Governmental and Police authorities here. We are very confident about serious actions in these matters. There is no choice here because the International education industry in Australia worth $16 Billion [about $2-3 Billion from Indian students] is at risk if prompt actions are not implemented.
As you may know, a community committee has been formed in consultation with Indian Consul General, Sydney to help tackle these issues. The committee members are Harry Walia, Vish Viswanathan, Stanley D’Cruz, Shubha Kumar and Yadu Singh [Coordinator].Following is a brief description of issues and proposed action plans by the committee.
These issues are;
1. Safety and Security:
Brief Details:
Several cases of robbery & bashings of Indian Students in Sydney.
Proposed Action Plan
2. Accommodation for Indian Students
Brief Details:
No assistance on arrival. Many students forced to share crowded apartments and Poor treatment by rental agents
Proposed Action Plan
3. Quality of training:
Brief details:
Many students are exposed to poor quality of training by educational service providers & shady, shonky or bogus institutions.
Proposed action plan:
4. Exploitation of Indian students:
Brief details:
Indian students are exposed to exploitation of all kinds & bullying in part time employment or by educational service providers. They are getting below-award wages in many cases. Some Indian employers are also involved in this type of exploitation.
Proposed action plan:
5. Health Cover, other appropriate insurance matters and emergency insurance:
Brief details:
Lack of proper/current Insurances and coverage by some students, particularly when they are on bridging Visa
Proposed Action plan:
6. Social issues:
Brief details: poor communication, insufficient participation in local community events & meetings and poor public behaviour in many cases
Proposed action plan
7. Brief details: Indian students are unaware how to deal with emergency situations
Proposed action plan:
8. Develop the Indian media leadership group for students’ and community issues. This would give an opportunity to exchange views, form strategies and execute them effectively. India Media group will help in dissemination of the information. We recognise that we need a good relation with Indian and Australian media to be able to do an effective advocacy of Indian students’ issues with various Gov agencies and relevant stake-holders.
9. To set up an INDIAN Students’ Emergency assistance and BENOVALENT FUND
10. To seek actively sincere and genuine community members and students for the continuation of the outlined tasks. Most times, Indian community members are aware about the exploiters from our own community. We must take it as our social/community responsibility to do a social boycott of such exploiters. We believe that exploitation of Indian students by Indian community members is the lowest of low and a despicable behaviour.
11. To lobby for some transport concession.It is available all over Australia except NSW and Vic. It would encourage more use of public transport which might also reduce the assaults/robberies of students.
12. To bridge the gap between Indian students and established Indian Australians by reaching out to Indian students, inviting them to social gatherings, mentoring them and providing help whenever practicable/possible.
Dr Yadu Singh
Co-ordinator
**PS: 29/8/09
[1]. The above mentioned committee had prepared its report and forwarded its recommendations to the relevant authorities.
[2]. After completing its job, the committee had dissolved itself at the end of June 2009 and communicated its decision to the Consul General on 1/7/09.
[3]. This report is being published with the purpose of making the community aware of its contents.
Welcome to my site!
Let me introduce myself. I live in Sydney, Australia. I am also a Physician or Internal Medicine specialist with MD. I obtained my basic medical degrees and training [MBBS and MD] from the prestigious medical institutions in India. My specialist training as a cardiologist was in Australia which led to FRACP [Fellow of The Royal Australasian College of Physicians]. I work as cardiologist in Sydney, NSW.
In addition to being a doctor, I have a keen interest in any matter which has anything to do with Australia, India and Indian-Australians. I consider myself well-informed about what is happening in Australia, India and the World. I love my community, which includes not just Indian Australians, but also all Australians, irrespective of their ethnicity, religion and gender. I am in the community work and leadership because I enjoy doing it and wish the best for the community. It is definitely not for any personal benefit.
This Blog is not about medicine. This is all about my political and social views on a variety of relevant issues. I urge you to not drag my profession while debating with me on political/social views. I am not a member of any political party. I am a keen observer of politics, however. I am often a social and political commentator, and my comments are often sought by the media.
Australia is my home since 1991. I live in Australia physically, mentally and socially. Australia is my “Karm Bhumi or Place of work”, but India will always remain my “Matra Bhumi or Birth place”, with a significant emotional bonding, and a place deep inside my heart. I love Australia and India both. I support Australian cricket team in every match except when they play with the Indian team. When that happens, I become neutral and rejoice with either winning team! [Just kidding!].
I identify myself as an Australian when choosing between Australian and any other identity as I share my value system with Australian value system and Australia is my home. When dealing with regions, religions or languages from India, I am an “Indian” first and anything else much later. I love India dearly as it is the place of my birth, but I love Australia no less because it is a great country and it has given me so much. I have no doubt that Australia is a great place to live and work, and Australians are fantastic people. Australia has my total loyalty!
Unlike some, I do not believe that Australia is a racist nation, although I recognize that there are some people who hold racist views, just like some people in any other country of the world. Such people are however a tiny minority. Vast majority of Australian people, like any other country, are fair-minded people. Systems, rules, Laws, regulations and Governance in Australia are not based on racism or racist agenda.
I wish to see Indian-Australians to be well-integrated among themselves and within Australian general community socially and politically. I want to see Indian Australians in the state and federal parliaments. I will not support an Indian Australian politician however if he/she is not a good person, lacks ability and if there is a better alternative candidate in the contest, irrespective of race, religion or gender of that candidate.
I am a strong advocate of good Australia-India relations. I want to see these relations go to newer heights.
I am comfortable with people who have integrity and decency, irrespective of their race, religion, gender or political views, but I detest those who exploit vulnerable people like students and new immigrants. I am not a fan of those who do not have any idea or understanding of “conflict of interest”.
I am a strong believer and a supporter of the multiculturalism and Multicultural Australia. To put it simply, multiculturalism to me is about freedom to practise and enjoy my own culture, enjoy other cultures, let others enjoy their own cultures and to integrate with the general Australian culture, ethos and values, which must always remain supreme. I believe in integration, not segregation. I like good and decent people from all sections of the Australian society, irrespective of their race, religion, beliefs, culture or political persuasion.
I have been active in the community over the years. Details of my community work can be found here. http://tinyurl.com/7opu4tv
I encourage you to go through my Blog posts and make comments, if necessary. I want to network with you and encourage you to join me via Twitter, Facebook or this Blog.
I recognize that you may not agree with every thing I say, have said, do, or have done. Irrespective of that, I encourage you to join me in debating on these matters, provided you have something positive to contribute. I am reasonably open-minded and have learnt to see merits in a well-argued point of view. I value your views, as long as you identify yourself while making your comments. I respect even those views which are not aligned with mine, provided they are advancing a debate on a topic. I believe that diversity of views and opinions is a positive thing for the community. I believe in the concept of “agree to disagree” when we are unable to have the same view on a subject.
I am keen to network with people from wide spectrum of fields, using face to face interactions and social media.
I can be reached via Email dryadusingh@gmail.com, Twitter www.twitter.com/dryadusingh, Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/DoctorYaduSingh, Facebook personal profile www.facebook.com/dryadusingh and Linkedin http://au.linkedin.com/pub/yadu-singh/52/581/864.
Thank you for visiting my site.
With best regards
Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/Australia
http://www.facebook.com/DoctorYaduSingh
http://www.linkedin.com/in/dryadusingh
(Edited 11 May, 2021)
I was happy to know that Deputy Prime Minister, Hon Ms Julia Gillard is visiting India later this month and Prime Minister, Hon Kevin Rudd is going to visit India a bit later this year. He has already been to China, USA, Japan and Indonesia last year and I believe his Indian trip is truly overdue. His previous planned visit to India had to be postponed for various reasons. India is an important country for Australia on multiple fronts. Indian students’ issues aside, both countries enjoy friendly relations with one another. We, Indians, in Australia, have a keen interest in seeing good relations between these two countries. We know that both Indian and Australian Governments are working seriously to fix the problems involving the Indian students.
Both countries must consider the interests of one another while doing business with one another. There are too many things which bind us together. These are our democracies, rule of law, multi-cultural societies, love of Cricket and memberships of the Commonwealth to name a few.
Australia and Australians are accepted as friends by India and Indians. I do not think the recent problems which our students faced, are going to cause a lasting damage to Australia-India relations.
Indian economy is growing and will keep growing for years to come. We are on a roll. The only thing which holds us down is the fact that we have a problem in regards to our energy supply. We need more and more energy for all our needs. It is essential not only for India but it is also essential for the health of the world economy.
We have been exploring all sources of energy supply as our local supply is far shorter than what we need. We have to import petroleum from the Arab countries and are debating about the gas supply from Iran. Iranian Gas is however problematic as it has to transit via Pakistani territory which is a problem in itself. Paskistani Govt authorities will never be able to guarantee a secure transit due to its weakness and the presence of the “non-state actors” there who are anti-India. In addition, we can not rule out a war between India and Pakistan which will create problems in the transit of the gas.
We are therefore forced to explore the option of atomic energy. We have no choice. Thanks to the leadership of Mr Man Mohan Singh and Mr George Bush, we have an India-specific NSG exemption and India has been able to have bilateral nuclear energy deals with USA, Russia, and France. We need a similar deal between India and Australia which will allow the Uranium sale to India. Australia has about 40% of world Uranium and sells it to China. NPT should not be an obstacle for Australia to sell Uranium to India.
We should remind ourselves about what the former Australian PM had said about such sale. He said that it would not be fair to sell Uranium to China and deny that to India. PM Howard was dead right.
It is therefore unfair for the ALP Gov to deny Australian Uranium to India. NPT issue is not relevant in regards to India as India has an impeccable records in these matters. Australian Foreign Minister Mr Stephen Smith’s press conference in New Delhi is worth going through. It is available through DFAT website. India has never been involved in nuclear proliferation unlike Pakistan and China. China is a NPT signatory but its record in these matters is not that great. Every body knows the nexus between China and Pakistan. We should not forget how North Korea got its atomic bombs. Pakistan would not have supplied anything to North Korea without the consent of China. Chinese manuals were found even in Lybia which tried to buy things from disgraced proliferator AQ Khan of Pakistan.
Simply put, it makes no sense for Australian Uranium going to China but not to India. In fact, there is more justification for Uranium sale to India. It is fully justifiable if ALP drops it objection to selling Uranium to non-NPT signatory country like India because India has a fault-free records in proliferation matters and this fact has been recognised by the world with the India specific NSG waiver.
I therefore urge the Australian PM and ALP to give India a “fair go”. This is what is expected from a friendly country. It is not fair to bind Australia with the NPT dogma and not see the whole issue in a realistic way. A friend has to see the problems of the his/her friends. Australia is a friend of India. It showed it by supporting the NSG exemption for India in Vienna last year. It shows it by supporting a permanent position for India in UNSC. It is about time that we see it once again by seeing Uranium trade between Australia and India. As we understand, it [ALP] would not have any political fall out from its decision to sell Uranium to India because the Coalition is already in favour of doing so. It should not be a problem to amend Atomic energy Act, giving an India-specific exemption.
I urge my Australian Indian friends to lobby with their local MPs on this matter. We need to pool our energies in persuading the Australian Gov to sell Uranium to India.
Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/23rd Aug, 2009
There have been several reports about the assaults of the Indian students in Australia. These attacks have been called “Racist attacks” by the Indian media in India and some people in Australia. I do not agree with the “racist tag” for these attacks. I, like others, however condemn them and have asked the Police authorities to take effective actions to stop these attacks.
The students’ issues are multi-dimentional and the stategy to tackle them has, by logic, to be multi-dimentional.
Following write-up will describe what should be done.
FIX THE ILLS OF THE INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION IN AUSTRALIA
31/7/09
You would have seen what was in the INSIGHT [SBS] and FOUR CORNERS [ABC] about International education recently. You would have also seen what was published on this matter in SMH and The Australian recently. Whatever is there is not pretty in regards to the International education. Rorts and scams are aplenty. Exploitation of students is the rule rather than the exception. Exploitation is happening in multiple fronts, starting from the agents in overseas countries and going to the schools and employments in Australia. There is no guarantee which certificate is genuine and which is worthless. International education schools have been called “Visa factories”. It has attracted headings of the nature ” A racket no one dares name”. It is really shocking and bringing a very bad name to Australia. Anybody who has a conscience must be getting agitated. I certainly am.
It is about the time that we say “Enough is enough”. Not only the Aust Gov and its regulatory bodies must act but we the Indian community must act too. If nobody acts, we risk the good name of this country itself getting a serious beating. It is not at a stage yet , I hope, that it can not be saved if the Gov agencies act decisively. We chose to live in Australia because we love to live here. If we love this country, then we ought to do everything which will not allow anyone to tarnish the good name of “Brand Australia”. We can never forget that this is the country where we have enjoyed and are enjoying our success and it is the country which our children will enjoy in future.
For our children’s sake, we do not want to have a situation that our education is looked down upon as useless when our children go for jobs all over the world. Some of our children would go and work all over the world as the the world has become a global village. Australia is a great country and we must not allow anyone to make it otherwise.
I have been in discussions with a large number of people from our background in recent days. I have also been talking with non-Indian Australians on these matters. It was gratifying to note that there was a general consensus about what needs to done in regards to International education.
In summary, it is about us including Aust Gov agencies, doing everything to maintain the good name of Australia and its brand recognition. It is also about maintaining the integrity of the Australian education and Immigration systems.
We will be able to do so if;
1.Australian Gov and its regulatory agencies do their jobs in exposing, investigating and prosecuting those who are involved in rorts and scams
2.Australian media exposes the rorters and scamers vigorously irrespective of who is involved
3.International students are guaranteed the education which they were promised when they signed the contract after understanding our system from authentic sources, before getting the Visa at the Australian embassies/High Commissions which is further followed by a verifiable and mandatory orientation here at the schools about Australian systems, ways, rules, regulations, what is On and what is not On
4.International students are placed in other relevant schools or refunded their money ASAP if they are unable to receive the quality education
5.Australian Gov and its regulatory agencies work ruthlessly and systematically in ensuring a good quality education for international students
6.Australian Gov works closely with Aust Universities and Overseas Governments in regulating the conducts of the education agents, operating on behalf of the educational providers
7.Australian Gov and its regulatory agencies consider the issues of infra-structure and capacity before giving permission for schools to enrol students and then monitor these issues randomly and frequently
8.International education and permanent residence visa are de-linked in an effective way by reversing some ill-advised changes brought in by Howard Gov around 2005
9.We have an international students’ ombudsman system for these students to go to if they have a problem with the schooling or employment as the legal system is very expensive in Australia.
10.Visa conditions are effectively policed as many work for far more than what is allowed
11.Australian police does effective policing in regards to crimes against international students by following the culprits/criminals vigorously and by being proactive rather than reactive
12.we, the Indian community approach and encourage international students to mix and mingle with the general “established” Indian community and by being the mentors to them in the new environment
13.we, as the community, take the initiative to establish an Indian international students’ benevolent fund to provide assistance to these students in certain well-defined emergency situations. The contributors for such funds must include students themselves, schools/universities, Australian Gov, Indian Gov and Indian community, knowing that there are no free lunches
There is some significant justification for a separate ministry at the federal/state levels for International education when this is generating more than $15 Billions which is number 3 earner for our economy. It is worth thinking about.
Assistance by the education providers in locating the appropriate accommodation for the initial 6 months and some subsidy for the transport would be other issues which should be considered.
We also need to make it mandatory that every student is maintaining the valid and current medical cover during his/her stay as the medical treatment is very expensive in Australia.
As far as we the Indian Australians are concerned, we must resolve to not socialise with the rorters and scamers from our own community. It should not be difficult as they are tarnishing the good name of our community and we do not want that to happen.
We also need to show leadership and tell our Indian media off for calling every assault on Indian students as racist attacks because 1. it is not a true and fair commentary and 2. it is potentially harmful to us. Australia has been projected as a racist country by the Indian media which is completely baseless. Indian media’s coverage has been hysterical, unprofessional and anything but objective. We, the Indian community do not believe that we are living in a racist country.
We need to project ourselves as a fair and caring society which we are but we also need to project us as a system which will not allow rorts or scams to succeed irrespective of who the scamers or rorters are. Jail is the right place if the rorter is an Australian resident/citizen and deportation is the fate if that person is a student.
Can we do it? Yes, we can. We do not have any other choice because anything else is going to harm the image of the very country which we love. I would even go to the extent of saying that anything else would be “Un-Australian”.
I hope that more would be ready and willing to join me in this……. A time has come when we join together and name this racket for what it is. After all, $15 billion dollars [out of which $2-3 Billion is from Indian students] is lot less than the long term harm to Australia and Australians if we do not do something effective to root out the rorts and bring in the fairness in the system for all the parties.
Regards
Dr Yadu Singh
Cardiologist
Baulkham Hills, NSW
Radio UMANG is
* a Radio programme for Health related topics
* hosted by Dr Yadu Singh who is a medical practitioner in Sydney
* broadcast at 98.5MHZ , between 8-9 PM every Friday
* broadcast in English
* contactable on 02 9747 0577 between 8-9 PM on Fridays
* contactable via singhyadu@gmail.com
* looking for your feedback.
Thank you
Dr Yadu Singh
PS: I have stopped this programme. Yadu Singh/03-08-10
Hello friends
We have a new Radio programme called RADIO UMANG on 98.5 MHZ every Fridays between 8-9 PM. We talk about health matters which are relevant to Indians and South Asians in Sydney. We also take up community matters.
I am its host and have had many doctors in my programme.
We have already covered Diabetes,Hypertension, insomnia/sleep hygiene, depression, women’s health, immunization, heart diseases, sleep apnea, acidity/peptic ulcer/reflux, back pain, osteoporosis, relaxation and heart attack.
Following doctors have participated in this programme;
Dr Yadu Singh
Dr Hem Rao
Dr Shailja Chandra
Dr Ray Pallath
Dr Paddy Singh
Dr Nadia Tejani
Dr Geoffrey Needham
More issues would be covered.
It is broadcast in English.
Do tune in at 98.5 MHZ every Friday between 8-9 PM.
Yadu Singh/Sydney/02-10-o9
#This prgramme is not operational NOW.#
Yadu Singh's Blog 