25 May 2022
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Dr Yadu Singh
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Sydney, 7 June, 2019
Every community group and every community leader from Indian Australian community should reflect on what their core responsibilities are.
They should introspect on what they have been doing so far and what they should be doing henceforth.
They should reflect on whether they are focused on and meeting the key needs of the community.
They must go beyond their events and festivals.
Taking selfies with politicians can’t and mustn’t be the end goal.
We mustn’t allow ourselves to become a target for derision in front of the political leadership and the broader community.
What’s being done to cater to the needs of our seniors when they are in their later years of their lives and need placements in aged care facilities? Are there adequate facilities and opportunities available for them to enjoy the company of other seniors while they are reasonably healthy and mobile? Is once a month gathering adequate? Should it be a weekly occurrence? What resources do they need and how can these resources be made available? These are the questions, which we must ponder over as a community. If someone is providing facilities to seniors, including aged care facilities, what we should do to support that work? It should be collaboration, not duplication with unnecessary competition. We should be asking about what we can do to support every good thing and activity.
Talking about community facilities, we don’t have a single place which we can call “India House”, a place with sufficient facilities, where cultural activities can be organized and where community meetings including meetings of seniors can take place. This place can be the hub for a variety of services ie health education, mentoring for settlement and assisting people in other areas. India House can be delivered if we work together. If numerically much smaller communities in NSW can have facilities like this, then there is no way we can’t have a facility like this for ourselves. Here too, we will need to work collaboratively. Btw, it we were focused and were watchful, GOI-funded Indian Culture Centre would have been situated somewhere in Western Sydney, not at the Consulate General of India premises in the Sydney CBD.
Domestic violence is not uncommon in our community, but there isn’t any group in our community, which is involved in genuine work to support the victims. Real work, not just claims, is desperately needed. Women need to come forward and lead this project. Recently, some people were approached by a victim of domestic violence, who has recently arrived in Sydney. Not sure about what they could do, they came to my office. We called around but no help was available. I contacted the Consulate General of India (CGI) in Sydney and organized a meeting between them and the victim there. They too have their limitations, but agreed to provide some legal help. They gave 3 names from the panel of lawyers. One of them does conveyancing work and doesn’t usually do such work. This person would obviously be of not much help. The second one told the lady that they only do work for perpetrators (defence lawyer) and the third one told the woman to go to a disreputable migration agent in Western Sydney. I have made a complaint about it to CGI, and requested them to review and revamp the panel of lawyers urgently.
Even though we are big in numbers in NSW and have numerous associations, nothing should prevent collaboration among us to work together in organizing a common and big Indian Republic Day and Indian Independence Day events. It look crazy to hold multiple fairs of the same type in the same suburb, often only a week apart. Collaboration, not unnecessary competition, is urgently needed.
There are often instances when someone in the community, especially visitors, gets into difficulties of various nature. Fund collections are started haphazardly, with inadequate accountability and transparency. Money has been swindled at times and money thus raised has been misallocated at times. Not only it is wrong in principle and under law, but it also creates negative impressions and perceptions about benevolent activities in our community. We can and should do better. We must deal with it collaboratively.
There is nothing wrong in joining political parties, but not much is right to take leadership roles in community associations to progress their political prospects. Contesting elections while holding key leadership roles in community associations is not a desirable trend. Community associations are meant to be non-political entities. Their leaders should remain non-political. Contesting election is a political activity. The purpose behind taking leadership in community associations must be altruism, benevolence and selfless service, not self-promotion.
Giving awards and recognizing people is good, but giving awards to undeserving people, calling them “role models” or “excellence in community service” is counterproductive and undesirable. It makes no sense and it doesn’t help the community if awards are given to people after taking money for the awards. “Cash for awards” should cease to happen. There can’t be any justification for awards to those, who sell visa sponsorships for cash, fleece people or exploit vulnerable people like new migrants and international students.
The list is big and the work could seem daunting, but we have to start somewhere.
Nothing can be done if we don’t pull our sleeves up and get into the work with determination and optimism.
While doing this, we should seek guidance and blessings from our sensible seniors, who are able to rise above their pet or favorite associations and look at the whole community as their own. To achieve productive outcomes, we do however need to avoid Dhritrashtras धृतराष्ट्र (a blind king who was not able to see or judge the shortcomings of his offsprings) and Shukracharyas शुक्राचार्य (The guru of demons, who supported bad elements despite full knowledge of their bad behavior).
Remember, United we gain strength, and with division, we fail and fall as a community!
Jai Hind. 👌🇮🇳🇦🇺👌
Dr Yadu Singh
Sydney, 1 June, 2019
I met a senior government official yesterday and had an opportunity to discuss things about what’s good and what’s not good in our community. This official has deep insight in this area.
Besides so many things, which are good, and bad, one thing is glaringly obvious that our community has too many associations and too many community leaders. Division is a major issue. Our approach and work are fragmented and patchy.
As a result, our community is not achieving things, which are necessary and crucial.
Despite our numbers being 750,000 in Australia, we don’t seem to be able to attract sufficient attention from political parties. Insufficient attention from and traction with political parties also reflect in lack of governmental funding for key community projects.
One example is aged care facility, which can cater to cultural and dietary needs of our elders during later years of their lives.
There are other key issues, which require focus and work. Selfies with politicians alone can’t be sufficient.
In my view, community groups need to collaborate, discuss and evolve strategies to achieve key goals for the community. Egos must be controlled.
We need to seek the support and guidance from some of our community elders, who have the wisdom, knowledge and willingness to help us to move in the right direction.
A few of us can meet informally to discuss the strategy.
At some stage, approximately 25-30 of our wise and bright people, including a few good and community-minded businessmen, should meet over dinner to formulate key goals for the community and relevant strategies.
I have discussed with one of our excellent food businessmen from the community, who is happy to host us at no cost.
It will be helpful if we have the support from some key and thoughtful community media.
More will come later…
Dr Yadu Singh
25 December, 2018
Today, 27 October, is Karwa Chowth, which many Indian women, especially from the northern India, celebrate.
There are many such ceremonies going on in Sydney too.
This festival celebrated by women in Kartik month of the Hindu Calendar. Women hold a fast, followed by prayers for the long life of their husbands. From dawn, women spend time in company of other women, family and friends. Fasting women assemble in a common place as part of the ceremony, involving storytelling and singing and worshipping. As the moon rises, women traditionally view the moon through a sieve or veil. This can also be done by the reflection of the moon on water. Prayers for the husband’s life and health is offered as the concluding part of the ceremony.
समस्त नारीशक्ति-मातृशक्ति को पावन पर्व *करवाचौथ* की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं व मंगलकामनाएं..!!
*मनुष्य सदैव आपका ऋणी रहेगा..आपने – जन्म दिया, शिक्षा दी..इंसान की प्रथम गुरु हैं आप..!!*
*कभी – माँ बनकर जन्म दिया, विजय तिलक लगाया तो कभी बहन बनकर राखी बांधी..कभी सुहागन बन के लंबी आयु की कामना की तो पुत्री बनकर गौरवान्वित करवाया..तो सच्ची मित्र बनकर जीवन को नई दिशा दी, हौसला दिया, सहयोग किया..!!*
*हम या समाज आपका यह ऋण कभी उतार नही पाएंगे..!!*
*नारीशक्ति आपको सहस्रों नमन..!!*
*यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवता:*✍☘💕
Karwa Chowth is a family event, in which everybody joins in.
More details:
सिडनी, १ अक्टूबर २०१८
हिन्दू धर्म का कुछ हिन्दुओं ने सदियों से अपने फायदे के लिए दुरूपयोग किया है, और हिन्दू धर्म का अत्यंत नुक्सान किया है. यह अब भी जारी है. ऐसे हिन्दुओं का सम्बन्ध धर्म से बहुत कम पर अपने निजी फायदे व अपनी राजनीति से ज्यादा है. ये नकली हिन्दू है. हिन्दू होने का बस केवल नाटक करते है यह लोग. इन्ही की गतिविधियों से भारत देश में आज हिन्दुओं में इतना विघटन है. ऐसे लोग हर जगह है. ऑस्ट्रेलिया में भी है. ऑस्ट्रेलिया क़े नकली व तथाकथित हिन्दू नेता हिन्दू समाज को कंट्रोल करने का इरादा रखते है. अपनी एक ख़ास राजनैतिक सोच थोपना चाहते है. वे लोग हिन्दुओं क़े मठाधीश बनना चाहते हैं. वे यह चाहते हैं कि हर हिन्दू उनसे आज्ञा लेकर ही हिन्दू धर्म से सम्बंधित कोई काम करे. कुछ समय पहले अन्य लोगों द्वारा भी एक ख़ास मेला करने पर उनपर दवाव डाला गया कि वे मेला न करे. उनको बुली करने का प्रयाश किया गया. जब दवाव असफल हो गया तो मोहल्ले मोहल्ले में अपना वही मेला करने की पद्यति शुरू करना भी इनकी गतिविधिया हैं. इसके पीछे धर्म नहीं कुछ और ही कारण हैं. ये तथाकथित व नकली हिन्दू नेता सोचने को तैयार ही नहीं बल्कि अक्षम भी हैं कि हिन्दू धर्म व राजनैतिक सोच दो अलग अलग बाते हैं. अजीब नौटंकी सोच हैं इनकी. मजाक तो यह भी हैं कि अब ये लोग देश भक्त व कौन सच्चा हिन्दू हैं कौन नहीं हैं का तमगा भी देते घूम रहे हैं. किसके पोस्टर में किसका लोगो (चिन्ह) लगे, इसपर भी इनका कन्ट्रोल रहे ऐसा ये लोग चाहते है. आप को पता ही होगा कि कर्म के आधार पर बनी व परिवर्तनशील वर्ण प्रथा को जन्म पर आधारित व अपरिवर्तनशील वर्ण प्रथा में बदलना एक स्वार्थ पर आधारित घोर अन्याय व अनुचित कुकृत्य था. आपको यह भी पता ही होगा की यह कुकृत्य किसने किया था. आँखे खोलेंगे तो देंखेंगें की वही लोग अभी भी वैसी हरकते कर रहे हैं. सामने न भी हों तो परदे क़े पीछे से कठपुतिलियों को संचालित करके अपना पुराना हथकंडा चला रहे हैं. हिन्दू धर्म को अपने निजी हितों में दुरूपयोग करना बंद होना चाहिए. इसके लिए हम सभी हिन्दुओं को इन स्वार्थी तत्वों के द्वारा इस इस प्रकार के हिन्दू धर्म के दुरूपयोग के खिलाफ बोलना पड़ेगा. इन हिन्दू धर्म के ठेकेदारों से यह कहना होगा कि तुम लोग सुधर जाओ और सही रास्ते में आ जाओ. अब हमें बोलना होगा “तुम आवाज़ दो, हम साथ हैं” इन चालू लोगो को ठीक करने में. क्योंकि हिन्दू धर्म किसी की बपौती नहीं है.
Sydney, 16 September, 2018
I had the opportunity to be with Australian Telangana Forum (ATF) members today at Upjohn Park, Rydalmere, NSW, while they celebrated Telangana Day.
This celebration included Telangana style Barbecue at site and home-cooked food, sweets and drinks.
I was made at home and was asked to give away certificates and prizes to various people and kids.
Their hospitality, zeal and “can do” attitude is worth admiring. No wonder that Telangana people are my very close friends.
Jai Telangana! Jai Bharat!!
Dr Yadu Singh
Sydney, 15 September, 2018
Attended (Lord) Ganesh Utsav, organized by Telugu Sandadi Group at Parramatta River Foreshore, Parramatta, NSW. Superbly organized event with huge crowds. Congratulations to Telugu Sandadi Group and Telugu community in Sydney.
Federation of Indian Associations of NSW (FIAN) was a proud supporter of Telugu Utsav.
Dr Yadu Singh
Sydney, 3 September 2018
Dr Yadu Singh
Sydney, 26 August 2018
Depressing scenario of our community in politics is hard to miss or ignore.
There are too many community leaders around us. Most of them, unfortunately, have no idea why they are community leaders.
All you need to do is to register an association and become a community leader. It’s an easy job. This itself is not a problem, if you want to help people and do some good things for the community.
The problem is when you form an association to serve your personal interests, advance your political career, and you have nothing to do with community work or interests. If you do this, you become a con man. You do what you are not supposed to do, and you don’t do what you are supposed to do.
Let’s see what is happening in our community. As I said above, we have far too many associations and far too many community leaders.
After many years of masquerading as community leaders, some such people turn into “journalists” to stay relevant and to get invitations from the Consulate and Government agencies. Hilariously, some of them turn back into community leaders again after a few years. The sad part is that they are unable to do a good job in either role. They are often referred as “jokers”, with very limited vision, impact and relevance. What a waste of space they are.
Many “leaders” are into things, which have nothing to do with community interests. Some examples are;
1. Contesting elections for MP seats or Council seats, while holding positions in their community associations, which, by rule, are non-political organizations. In 2016, three community “leaders” did exactly this in Chifley, Cumberland and Parramatta area. Whether they had ability or not is a separate matter, but their dismal performance in the elections is an indicator of their worth as political candidates. All these leaders lost badly and the Chifley candidate brought down the two-Party preferred vote for his party by 10% compared to the same vote 3 years earlier. This gentleman is now promoting himself as a candidate for the Upper House of NSW Parliament, ignoring the basic fact that he has not done much to deserve any such position.
2. Calling yourself an “independent” candidate, when you are a card carrying member of a political party is a new low. People are not fools. They saw through this game and refused to support this type of “independent” candidates during last Council elections.
3. You put pictures of top leaders in your event posters, without these leaders’ approval and without a guarantee that they would be attending your event. This is not only a false advertising, but it’s also unethical.
4.. Raising money purportedly to help the family of a deceased, but without establishing the need for financial help from the family before collecting the funds is idiotic. It’s worse, when they don’t return the money to the donors, after knowing that family doesn’t need the money. This is clearly illegal and wrong. Using pics of the deceased in your fundraising posters is not an acceptable behavior.
5. Lying and falsely claiming something, which you are not and haven’t done are your standard operating procedure, thinking people are fools and wouldn’t know about it. Claiming that you have been the president of an association more than 14 months before you actually were elected is despicable behavior.
6. Not doing any AGM for 4 years and not presenting financial reports to the members and Department of Fair Trading, while roaming around looking important as community leaders is another example of unacceptable behavior. Thanks to some good Gujarati community members, who brought this out in the public.
7. Allowing close family members as part of the executive committee and ignoring the concept of conflict of interest, and receiving membership fees into the personal accounts of the leaders, instead of the official account of the association was brought out recently by good community members like Amit Vyas.
8. Not having any idea or understanding about ethical behavior & governance, as is the case with some associations and community leaders.
9. Swindling and “wasting” of hundreds of thousands of your association’s funds, without any accountability, and getting away from the misdeed because the co-leaders (board members) are braindead and grossly incompetent. I myself resigned from one such association, when the executive committee (EC) would not answer the question about spending of $35000 for an overseas artist without the approval of the board, when the constitution of that association mandated prior approval of the Board for anything more than $1000.
10. Holding leadership position in community associations, while all you do is substandard activities and getting exposed by national Media is a new and worrying trend. ABC Four Corners report “Holy Cash Cow” http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/holy-cash-cows/1368776 is a burning example. An “hero” in this story is today a community leader.
11. There are some community leaders, who sell Visa sponsorships. They take $50K for sponsoring a visa. This is an illegal activity. It’s a crime in Australia to seek benefit (cash or kind) for sponsoring a visa. It is punishable with up to 2 years prison term and up to $300K fine. It appears that this illegal activity is the only business for some of the community leaders. The fraud is compounded by these con men by appearing to be “connected” and influential as a result of being seen in pics with top political leaders like ministers, Premiers and Prime Minister. As we know, having pics with Chief Ministers (Premiers) and Prime Minister in India is very difficult and is generally taken as an indicator of influence and being highly connected.
12. Some associations and community leaders have given, and still give, “role model of the community” awards to scammers and fraudsters. This they do after getting some money from the scammers. One so-called big association gave “excellence in community service” award to a thug, who took $50,000/person from three women for 457 sponsorships from his restaurant in Penrith. These women had contacted many of us. After hearing about this “excellence in community service” award to this thug, who only does this type of substandard activities, we contacted the president of this so-called big association, seeking a meeting, but he didn’t do anything and didn’t meet. Things are very frustrating and upsetting.There is a need for reflection matched with commensurate action here.
13. There is an “award giving” business in our community. Awards are often given to undeserving people, without proper scrutiny and after payments of some fees for these awards.
14. As if this was not depressing enough, we have a few without any shred of ability, community work or network in the community, who aspire to become an MP or MLC, only because they have a close proximity with a Minister (s), who is/are promoting them, ignoring the objective criteria of ability and capacity, which some others clearly have.
15. I was horrified and shocked to hear from a senior politician recently that one Councillor in Sydney from a particular political party made or tried to make money/benefits, using the position in the the Council. Thankfully, the political party dealt with that matter in the best possible manner, without exposing themselves in the media. Hilariously, this person still dreams to be a big “leader”, which is far from the reality. A classical example of substandard integrity and poor credentials for political positions, but clouded judgement due to low IQ!
16. Consulate is no less responsible for the madness in our community either. Instead of updating the list of invitees, they keep inviting past leaders, who have ceased to be the current leaders. In their recent Independence Day reception, they had 9 useless “leaders” from a failing group, most of whom were past office beaters and even included their honorary solicitor. One wonders, whether Consulate is in the business of propping up unproductive and “waste of space” so-called leaders in the community to maintain a useless army of community leaders.
Our community needs to look into community associations and should start asking questions from community leaders and community associations. We must make them accountable. We mustn’t allow such community “leaders” to damage the name and reputation of our community.
We know that the vast majority in our community is that of decent and upright people, but we also know that a minuscule minority is capable of killing our reputation and good standing in front of the broader community.
Before it’s misconstrued that my post is painting all associations and community leaders with the same brush, let me make it very clear. My intention is not to condemn all associations and people running them, because I know that many are doing wonderful work. I admire them and am grateful to them. What I am concerned about is the growing number of selfish, self-seeking and unethical (some are corrupt) people, masquerading as community leaders, who are dragging us all down.
All I am agitating for is that good people, with ability, capacity and value system, are the ones, who should be in community leadership and should be the ones, who should be getting political positions. It’s applicable to both major parties. Anything to the contrary is not good for our community’s interests or wellbeing.
Dr Yadu Singh
INFORMATION: Due to the passing away of a family member of Mr Ajay Singh (Redline Legal), he has to fly overseas urgently. We are therefore postponing this seminar to a future date. This seminar “Law and You” will not take place on Sunday, 9 September. Inconvenience is regretted. More information to follow.
————————————-
Invitation
Community Education Seminar “Law & You”. Sunday, 9 September, 3-5pm. Free event. | RSVP | Share | Promote | Thank You 🙏🙏 |
Dr Yadu Singh
fianinc1@gmail.com
Sydney, 7 July, 2018
There are too many community leaders around us. All you need to do is to register an association and become a community leader. It’s an easy job. This itself is not a problem, if you want to help people and do some good things for the community. The problem is when you form an association to serve your personal interests and you have nothing to do with community work or interests. If you do this, you become a con man. You do what you are not supposed to do, and you don’t do what you are supposed to do. Let’s see what is happening in our own community. In Indian Australian community, we have many associations and many community leaders. Many community leaders turn into “journalists” to stay relevant and to get invitations from the Consulate and Government agencies. Some of them turn back into community leaders again after a few years. Many of these “leaders” are into things, which have nothing to do with community interests. Some examples are;1. Contesting elections for MP seats or Council seats, while holding positions in their community associations, which, by rule, are non-political organizations. In 2016, three community “leaders” did exactly this in Chifley, Cumberland and Parramatta area. Whether they had ability or not is a separate matter, but their dismal & performance is an indicator of their worth as political candidates.2. Calling yourself as an “independent” candidate, when you are a card carrying member of a political party. People are not fools. They saw through this game and refused to support this type of “independent” candidates. 3. You put pictures of top leaders in your event posters, without these leaders’ approval and without a guarantee that they would be attending your event. This is not only a false advertising, but it’s also unethical. 4. You raise money purportedly to help the family of a deceased, but don’t care to establish the need for financial help from the family before collecting the funds. You do worse, when you don’t return the money to the donors, after knowing that family doesn’t need the money. This is clearly illegal and wrong. Using pics of the deceased in your fundraising posters is not an acceptable behavior. 5. Lying and falsely claiming something, which you are not and haven’t done are your standard operating procedure, thinking people are fools and wouldn’t know about it. 6. Not doing any AGM for 4 years and not presenting financial reports to the members and Department of Fair Trading, while roaming around looking important as community leaders. 7. Allowing close family members as part of the executive committee and ignoring the concept of conflict of interest, and receiving membership fees into the personal accounts of the leaders, instead of the official account of the association. 8. Not having any idea or understanding about ethical behavior & governance, as is the case with some associations and community leaders. 9. Swindling and “wasting” of hundreds of thousands of your association’s funds, without any accountability, and getting away from the misdeed because the co-leaders are braindead and grossly incompetent.
That’s not all. There are some who sell Visa sponsorships. They take $50K for sponsoring a visa. This is an illegal activity. It’s a crime in Australia to seek benefit (cash or kind) for sponsoring a visa. It is punishable with up to 2 years prison term and up to $300K fine. It appears that this illegal activity is the only business for some of the community leaders. The fraud is compounded by these con men by appearing to be “connected” and influential as a result of being seen in pics with top political leaders like ministers, Premiers and Prime Minister. As we know, having pics with Chief Ministers (Premiers) and Prime Minister in India is very difficult and is generally taken as an indicator of influence and being highly connected. Some associations and community leaders have given, and still give, “role model of the community” awards to scammers and fraudsters. This they do after getting some money from the scammers.Things are very frustrating and upsetting.There is a need for reflection matched with commensurate action here. Our community needs to look into community associations and should start asking questions from community leaders and community associations. We must make them accountable. We mustn’t allow such community “leaders” to damage the name and reputation of our community. We know that the vast majority in our community is that of decent and upright people, but we also know that a minuscule minority is capable of killing our reputation and good standing in front of the broader community.Before it’s misconstrued that my post is painting all associations and community leaders with the same brush, let me make it very clear. My intention is not to bag a good number of associations and people running them, because I know they are doing wonderful work, without being in the forefront. I admire them and am grateful to them. What I am concerned about is the growing number of selfish and self-seeking people, masquerading as community leaders, who are dragging us all down. Dr Yadu Singh http://www.facebook.com/DoctorYaduSinghwww.twitter.com/dryadusingh
Friday, 13 April, 2018
Today is Vaisakhi, which is being celebrated by Punjabis, especially Sikhs throughout the world.
Vaisakhi commemorates the beginning of Khalsa Panth. Vaisakhi is also the Remembrance Day of Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar. Today is the day when farmers celebrate the beginning of the harvesting season in Punjab. Vaisakhi is also celebrated as the Sikh New Year!
On Sunday, 8 April, 2018, National Sikh Council of Australia organised a spectacular Vaisakhi celebration at Ryde Civil Hall. The organising committee included Mr Ajmer Singh Gill, Mr Bawa Singh Jagdev, Dr Yadu Singh, Mr Gurcharn Singh Kahlon and Bill (Baljinder) Singh Nanda. 300+ people and several political leaders were in attendance.
Dr Yadu Singh
http://www.facebook.com/dryadusingh
Sydney/16 March, 2018
Announcement:
Dr Yadu Singh
fianinc1@gmail.com
Sydney, 1 March, 2018
Happy Holi folks!
Holi is a well known Indian festival and is called the Festival of Colours.
This year, Holi falls on March 1 and March 2.
Holi will start with Holika Dahan, which takes place in the night between 1 and 2 March. People will gather, worship, sing, dance and party around the bonefire.
Rangwali Holi (festival of colors) will take place next morning ie 2 March.
In India, this is a free-for-all festival of colours. People play and colour each other with dry powder and coloured water. People from all segments, age and gender take part in the festivities.
It is celebrated all over India and countries where Indians, especially Hindus, have migrated to. People exchange pleasantries and good wishes, visiting homes of friends and relatives.
In Australia too, Holi festivities are organised by Indians in various cities. In Sydney, Holi events are lined up in Strathfield Park by Strathfield Australians of Indian Sub-continental Heritage (SAISH), and Dolls Point by South Asian Australian Association on Sunday, 4 March, 2018, in which I will take part.
More details of Holi festival: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holi
Dr Yadu Singh
http://www.twitter.com/dryadusingh
Sydney, 10 February, 2018
Many of us have been following various reports coming out of print and digital media, and various television and radio channels relating to the Adani’s projects in Australia. As you would be aware that this has been the largest investment by an Indian company in Australia and has become a signature project strengthening ties between Australia and India. Adani has invested a lot of resources and time on its projects in Australia and continued to progress in-spite of huge resistance coming from anti-coal groups.
The information that we gathered from the publicly available information, they have invested over $3.3 billion in Australia since 2010. We as a community have been closely watching and monitoring the progress of this project and of late are getting very concerned about how a project of this magnitude is being unfairly targeted.
The projects that are being undertaken by Adani is a private investment and we normally do not comment on the positions taken and decisions made by a private company. However, the reports coming out of the media have caused us serious concerns as a community who love the Australian way of life and believe in providing ‘fair-go’ to everyone irrespective of one’s affiliation to a particular community, race, or sexual orientation.
We strongly feel that we are not giving a ‘fair-go’ to Adani, and we have been creating one hurdle after another. Again, based on the publically available information, we understand that Adani’s projects have gone through onerous approvals processes (at federal, state and local levels). These approvals were challenged at various courts of law (including the matters relating to the impact on environment), and after due consideration of all the facts, and based purely on the merit of the projects, decisions were given in favour of the company. Once the company has followed the due process and has adhered to the law of the land in which the projects are being developed, we believe they have full right to proceed with the business. If we raise the same issues that have already been considered during the approval processes and the court processes then we are conveying the message that either we do not wish to follow the verdict of the law or we are ignorant about the process undertaken. In either situation, this impacts negatively the company that is trying hard to develop the project.
We were dismayed with the backflip from Qld Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, during last election after supporting Adani Group for years. Crash politics was at play in her decision.
Our dismay is compounded with recent statements from the leader of the Opposition, Mr Bill Shorten, who seems to put his party’s interest before Australia’s interests. Votes of anti-investment Extreme Left groups in Batman seat of Melbourne are more important.
It is becoming very clear that the activists disguised as the protectors of the environment are not only disregarding the law of the land but also, to some extent, undertaking unlawful activities. This is clearly demonstrated by the protests to stop the rail traffic or disturb the operation of the port and creating life threatening situations.
We are also disturbed by the fact that the politicians (especially those with far-left views) are using the project for their political benefit. This is evident from the recent election in Queensland and the upcoming by-election in Batman – governments who have made various comments in media supporting the project in the past are back-flipping at the time of election to capture green votes. The parties may be able to garner few additional seats by using these petty tactics, however, we strongly believe that it undermines the fabric of a “fair go” and the Australian way of life.
In a democratic society, everyone’ voice needs to be heard. It applies to both the sides- activists as well as that of the proponents of the projects. Also, the oppositions should be based on facts and not on some ill-informed views and opinion.
Some important facts are:
– India is one of the lowest emitters of carbon dioxide on a per capita basis
– There are over 300 million Indians that do not have access to power
– The project is intended to provide electricity to thousands of villages in India
– Will generate significant jobs in Australia
India has been one of the fastest growing economies of the world. India with its huge middle-class population, in need of improving the standard of living of its masses through provision of luxuries of life, which we as Australians take for granted, is on the cusp of becoming one of the largest economies of the world. Australia is very well placed to benefit from the growth of India. The success of Adani project will provide a very positive message to the Indian investors who are looking to invest in a stable and investor friendly country. The trade between India and Australia will suffer a massive blow if we let our petty politics to jeopardize investor sentiment.
Adani Fact Sheet:
Adani has been building a long-term future with Queensland and Australia
Adani’s presence in Australia
• Adani commenced its journey in Queensland, Australia more than 7 years ago when it acquired mining tenement in August 2010 and have its presence in following business:-
• Adani Australia is developing the “Carmichael Coal Mine” project which will be the first mine in the Galilee Basin, Central Queensland.
• Adani Australia is developing multi user, open access 388 km Rail linking the mine to Abbot Point Terminal
• Adani Australia owns and operates existing Abbot Point Port Terminal.
• Adani Australia is progressing 2 solar projects located at Rugby Run, Queensland and Whyalla in South Australia
• Over $3.3 billion has been spent to date on the projects. It is the largest Indian Investment to date
• Adani Australia currently employs more than 800 people across all our operations.
Environment & Approvals Journey
• The Carmichael Coal Project has been granted approvals under 7 different Commonwealth and Queensland Acts.
• Adani has obtained 112 approvals and permits from both State and Federal government
• There are over 1,800 strict conditions across these permits and approvals.
• Adani had ZERO land holder objection to the Carmichael Coal Mine under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 or Mineral Resources Act 1989.
• Their approvals have been tested in the courts and Adani has won ALL the court cases to reach this stage
• All the litigations were filed by anti-coal NGOs to delay and disrupt the development.
• Adani has all the agreements (ILUA) in place with all 4 Traditional Owners. Only a minority of one group (W&J) has challenged the agreement which has been funded by foreign NGOs through back channels.
• In Summary, Adani has been subject to rigorous and at times multiple approval processes over nearly 8 years at both State and Federal level that have been tested and upheld in the courts resulting in net delay of approximately 3 years
Benefits of Project
• Adani Australia will create more than 10000 direct and indirect jobs at full capacity of mine
• Over $22 Billion in the form of Royalties and taxes which shall be reinvested by government into community
• The Coal from Carmichael project will replace the poorer quality of domestic coal burn in India and will reduce the associated carbon emission
• This project is intended to provide energy security to those in the 18000 villages in India that have no access to electricity and thus lifting millions of Indians out of energy poverty
• Will build a strong economic relationship between Australia and India
Important links:
As concerned people, we appeal to both sides of politics to provide confidence to the investors in Australia by providing unequivocal support for the Adani project who have spent years to obtain approvals from the government and through the court processes.
We as Australians should certainly provide assurance to the investors that Australia is open for business and would assist anyone who follows the law of the land with full support and protection for it to grow and at the same time benefit all Australians.
Finally, ALP and Bill Shorten should listen to people, Mayors and Union leaders operating in regional Queensland, who are supporting this investment, instead of listening to anti-investment extreme Left activists and groups. Bill Shorten and ALP should give a “Fair Go” to Adani Australia, and not backflip this late in piece after saying YES for years.
There are formal processes to go through for any development. If Adani Australia complies with all those conditions they have any right to go ahead with the development. One should be challenging the process that gives the approval, not the applicant.
Dr Yadu Singh
Sydney, 26 January, 2018
G’day everyone.
Today is Australia Day!
It’s our national day, which will be celebrated throughout the nation with a variety of ceremonies, picnics, barbecues, parades, citizenship ceremonies, announcement of Australia Day Honours & Australian of the year and fire works.
It’s a public holiday.
Australia Day commemorates Landing of First Fleet at Port Jackson & raising of the flag of the Great Britain at Sydney Cove on 26 January, 1788.
Enjoy Australia Day celebrations and festivities today.
I wish my co-Australians a happy Australia Day!
More details: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_Day
Dr Yadu Singh
Sydney/11 October, 2017
Australian High Commissioner to India (New Delhi), Ms Harinder Sidhu, is in Australia presently. She is here for the mid term consultations with the Government and various stakeholders. As part of these consultations, she met a select group of Indian Australian community representatives These reps included people from various segments and faiths.
An hour-long session in the DIBP offices in Parramatta gave an opportunity for all of us to understand and raise relevant issues.
From Federation of Indian Associations of NSW (FIAN), Abhijeet Martand and I participated. Mr SK Verma participated on behalf of the Consulate General of India in Sydney.
We emphasized the role of Indian Australian community as the bridge between India and Australia and their usefulness in enhancing the relations between Australia and India. I pointed out how we (community) took up the matters during students’ troubles in 2009-10 and helped counter “Australia is racist” campaign by Indian media. I reiterated that then Australian Government did not utilize the community meaningfully in countering the campaign by Indian media.
Some wanted to be listed with the Govt agencies for people to contact them when needing help, but we expressed our strong view that no such listing etc should be done without involvement of, and vetting by, the Government agencies because some “leaders” are known to exploit our own people.
The issue involving the visa for priests was raised. It was mentioned that the standard of English requirement is onerous and excessive. I pointed out that the matter was also raised in the Q & A session with DIBP Assistant Minister, Alex Hawke, in a recent meeting organized by FIAN, and that it will be better if we work together and raise the matter with the Minister directory. The High Commissioner agreed that the matter is in the policy domain and will better be dealt with the Government. We have a plan to organize a meeting involving key stakeholders and then meet the DIBP Assistant Minister.
Dr Yadu Singh
Sydney, Australia
7th June, 2016
I wish a blessed Ramadan to my friends of Islamic Faith and their families.
May almighty God accept your fasting.
May almighty God accept your good deeds.
May almighty God shower his blessings on you and your family this month.
Ramadan Mubarak!
Ramadan Kareem!
Dr Yadu Singh
http://www.twitter.com/dryadusingh
http://www.facebook.com/dryadusingh
Sydney/18th March, 2016
Next federal election for Australian Commonwealth Parliament will be held later this year. If the Turnbull Government goes for the double dissolution of the Parliament, then this election may happen as early as July. If not, then they will happen in September-October. Opinion polls are indicating a tough contest between Bill Shorten-led Australian Labor Party (ALP) and Malcolm Turnbull-led Coalition of Liberal Party & National Party. Significant lift in the numbers for the Coalition in the opinion polls after Malcolm Turnbull became the Prime Minister has largely drifted away from the Coalition. There are multiple reasons for it and these reasons are well known. Honeymoon period for the new Prime Minister is well and truly over. Lack of policy clarifications and policy direction are also relevant. Western suburbs of Melbourne and Sydney have many seats which are classed as marginal, where a small change of voting can deliver these seats to either party. If ALP wins many of these seats, Bill Shorten will become the Prime Minister. The Coalition will need to hold on to many of these seats if they want to form the next Government. They definitely have a tight contest.
People in the Western suburbs of Sydney and Melbourne, like similar areas in other cities, are doing tough, with higher unemployment, cost of living pressure and poverty. These factors often lead to higher level of dissatisfaction and willingness to change the voting pattern. Their votes are up for the grab.
Newer migrants and people who can’t afford to buy expensive houses in Northern and Eastern Sydney, find Western Sydney as a place where they can find houses within their reach. In regards to Indian Australians in NSW, it is well known that this community has a significant presence in Western Sydney. Suburbs like Parramatta and Blacktown have a large number of Indian Australian families. “Singh” was the most common surname in Blacktown a few years ago. Strathfield and some area in South West Sydney in/around Liverpool also have a significant Indian Australian presence.
No party can ignore this community anymore. This fact is now well known and is evident from the efforts by both major parties to work with our community over the last 5 years. ALP had formed a group from our community in 2010, calling it Subcontinent Friends of Labor (SCFOL) and Liberals networked with this community, forming Liberal friends of India (LFI) around 2011-12. Both parties, when in government, have worked to develop better relations with India. While Prime Minister, John Howard (the Coalition) was the one who decided to sell Uranium to India in 2007, it was Prime Minister Julia Gillard (ALP) who managed to reverse ALP’s opposition to Uranium sale to India in 2012, despite India’s refusal to sign Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT). Both parties have made active efforts to network with Indian Australians too. It is an undeniable fact that none of the major parties can ignore Indian Australians in Western Sydney if they want to win these seats.
With my interactions with Indian Australians, it is clear to me that reaching out by political parties plays a significant role during elections, even though the issues in NSW are not different for us when compared with those for the general community. Our voting behaviour should generally be similar to the general community, but networking by political parties and outreach by their apparatus and operatives can play an important role. Having said that, I think it would be prudent to make a comment or two here about the efforts by political parties to develop better relations with our community.
ALP started the process of active networking with our community by forming SCFOL Unfortunately, the group was led, and continues to be led, poorly. They controlled and continue to control, some of the community associations, which, unsurprisingly, damaged these associations. Nobody listens to these community associations today and these associations are irrelevant for our community. SCFOL was not inclusive and left out many prominent ALP members from our community, as a manifestation of Right Vs Left factional politics. Its first president did not appear to have a good understanding of Indian community. He came from a Union background and ran a smear campaign against many people just because he did not like them, had disagreement with them or those people did not agree with his style and brand of politics. Division, not inclusion, was his “Mantra” to serve his factional interests. It is beyond me why a group of Indian ALP members will run a vicious campaign against one of the Indian sub-continental persons (Susai Benjamin) from the same party. Obviously, it was an outcome of Right Vs Left ALP factional politics. Treachery and disloyalty are generally a part and parcel of political parties. I was not surprised therefore to know that the founder president was removed recently, and quite acrimoniously, leading to hostility and animosity between key members of the group. The new president of SCFOL, in my view, does not have the necessary ability or capacity to lead effectively. He is a light weight figure, when compared to former SCFOL president, as far as ALP connections are concerned. No surprise to see that the new president and few other equally ineffective leaders of SCFOL did not get any importance during Bill Shorten’s recent visit to Revesby Gurdwara, while the ex-president had the ears and eyes of the federal leader. Whether you like him or not, he (ex-president) was, in my view, more networked and effective as the SCFOL leader. SCFOL needs to be reviewed and revamped.
Liberals had shown their interests in developing good networking with Indian Australians a few years ago, but, later, appeared to have lost interest in such networking. During the O’Farrell Government time, only one person was taken as the Indian community, solely because he was a personal friend of the Premier. Everybody else was ignored. Sadly, this particular person never had any networking with Indian community. Currently, Liberal ministers seems to think that a marketing woman from Indian community, who has charmed her way into the Liberal network, is the key person for the networking with Indian community. Liberals are either naïve or they don’t care, if they believe this to be the case. Little do they understand that her key focus is her business interests, just like she did with ALP ministers. Federal and state Liberal leaders used to be seen in Indian community events, but this seems to have become less frequent. One pleasant thing however is that some from amongst our community with high-sounding but false positions after their names, and without matching credentials, are not in the inner network of Liberals anymore. It’s a big relief. These people are only for themselves and with their ugly antics, causing shame to themselves and our community. They were using photographs with high profile Liberal politicians to promote their business interests in fleecing money from gullible people. What is needed is the revamping and strengthening of LFI. Like SCFOL, it must be supported by key government ministers and Party officials, if it were ever to get traction in the community. Its key members from our community should be those who have good networking and are decent people, not those who are into exploitation and fleecing of the vulnerable people of our community. Those who sold work experience certificates, arranged fake marriages or arrange or sell 457 visa in return for cash should be kept away from LFI. In contrast to SCFOL, I haven’t heard much about LFI for some considerable time. I am not sure if it is still active. Obviously, LFI should become more active, and visible, if Liberals are keen for the votes and support from our community. It is in their interest to do so if they want to change the current 60:40 voting pattern against Liberal party, and in favour of ALP, as far as our votes are concerned. Improving the networking with our community is a no-brainer.
If I have an advice for ALP and the Coalition, and they listen to it, I will advise them to revamp these groups and go beyond SCFOL and LFI to network with our community. SCFOL and LFI represent a minuscule part of the community. After all, both of them need to have a large and productive network in the community to influence voting behaviour in their favour.
We, as a community, need to do a lot more to be a significant player in politics and political processes of Australia. We must work together in getting some, albeit only good ones, from our community in the local Councils and Parliaments. They must not be those who are into unethical, and illegal, activities like underpaying employees, taking or arranging 457 visa in return for cash or selling work experience for visa purposes. Such people are obviously so keen to be photographed with politicians, simply because it helps their business models and scares the victims from putting complaints. Political leaders must stay away from them and push them away into garbage bins, where they justifiably belong. It’s undeniable that we need to join political parties. Our numbers in Western Sydney are our strength and similarly our numbers in political parties will be our strength as well. One thing more. We must ensure that only good people from amongst us are supported for these roles in politics. Nobody with sub-standard qualities and ethics is encouraged. We don’t need Indian style politics in Australia. We will need to be careful, proactive and determined to not allow undesirable people with poor value system to succeed in their pursuit of selfish interests.
Finally, our support and votes for any party or candidate must be based on policies, principles and quality of the leadership. We must not allow anyone to fool us. Our votes should never be for someone who is not deserving of our votes.
Yadu Singh/Sydney/18 March, 2016
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Sydney, 7th March, 2016
People assembled at Prabha’s Walk (Lane Way in Parramatta Park connecting Amos Street and Pitt Street) at 7 PM on 7th March, 2016.
I conducted the proceedings, as the co-ordinator of the Vigil.
The remembrance Vigil was to remember and reflect on the brutal murder of Ms Prabha Arun Kumar at 9.30 PM on Saturday, 7th March, 2015, while she was walking from Parramatta Station to her home in Amos Street, Westmead, after finishing the double shift of work that day. Murderer (s) have not been caught yet.
I spoke about the summary of the developments so far since 7th March, 2015. I outlined that from media reports and from Police comments, we know that the motives of Prabha’s brutal murder were not robbery and sexual assault. It was a well-planned and pre-meditated murder. I also said that we are not concerned about who they are, where they live and what their motives were. We just want them to be found, arrested and brought to justice.
About 50 people were present.
Parramatta MP, Mr Geoff Lee, Parramatta Police LAC Commander, Mr Wayne Cox, newly-arrived Consul General of India, H.E. Mr B. Vanlalvuwna and Mr Rajeev Kumar, Vice Consul, Consulate General of India were present.
People walked down in a silent procession from Amos Street side of Laneway (now called Prabha’s Walk) and assembled at the site of the Plaque with the name of Ms Prabha Arun Kumar, which was installed last year.
After welcoming the people, I asked Geoff Lee MP, Commander Wayne Cox and Consul General H.E. Mr B. Vanlalvuwna to say a few words.
Mr Lee talked about the lighting and CCTV installation in the Lane Way after Prabha’s death. He wished that culprits are caught soon.
Mr Cox said that Police are working very hard to crack this heinous crime. There is a specific Unit which is working tirelessly to catch the culprits.
Mr Vanlanvuwna said that he has joined the Consulate only 2 weeks ago, but the file of Prabha’s brutal slaying was the first one he went through to apprise himself of the matter.
A few other members from the community expressed their feelings and sadness. They included Rekha Rajvansi and Sashi Lal. Arti Banga of http://www.DesiAustralia.com and Indira Devi of Blacktown Voice provided commendable support.
Mr Pravin Gupta read out his emotional poem dedicated to Prabha and her daughter, Meghna.
Ms Jaala Edmunds, a woman who lives in the area, laid flowers on the park bench dedicated in Prabha’s memory. She said “I was touched when this happened and very shocked her last moments were spent here. I never met her but I always think about her.”
This was followed by a minute’s silence to reflect on what happened to Prabha and grief of Prabha’s family, especially her daughter, Meghna.
Flowers and Candles were placed at the bench, which has the Plaque on the name of Prabha.
National Media, local media and a few from Indian ethnic media were present.
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I have received this message from Prabha’s brother, Dr Shanker Shetty.
“Hello Dr Singh. I am touched by the effort taken by you and the your team in organising the vigil. I watched the video online and was moved by the no of people who remembered Prabha even a year after she left Parramatta.
The tributes online and in the newspapers are reflective of the way the community has been affected by the incident and the way they have responded to this tragic incident.
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http://www.parramattasun.com.au/story/3775192/prabha-remembered-at-community-vigil/
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Dr Yadu Singh/Co-ordinator, Prabha’s Remembrance Vigil, held on 7th March, 2016
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Sydney, NSW
11th Feb, 2016
Australian Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, announced the appointment of Ms Harinder Sidhu as Australia’s new High Commissioner to India on 11th February, 2016.
Mr Peter Varghese, who too has Indian heritage, held this position in 2009 to 2012, before taking up the position of Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs in Canberra. There is a mini, and pleasant, trend in the Western world to appoint their nationals of Indian heritage in positions in, or related to, India. Ambassador Rich Rahul Verma is currently the United States of America’s Ambassador to India.
Ms Sidhu is of Indian heritage. In an interview, she disclosed that her family from both sides are of Indian background. Her father was born in Punjab, India. She was born in Singapore and migrated with her parents when she was a child. She has degrees in Commerce and Law from Sydney University.
Ms Sidhu was the head of Multilateral Policy division of Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) until recently, and had previously held senior positions in Climate Change Department, Office of National Assessment (ONA) and Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet. He has held diplomatic positions in Moscow and Damascus previously.
This appointment is significant in multiple ways.
Sydney, NSW
14th April, 2015
Wishing you Happy Baisakhi
More details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaisakhi
Dr Yadu Singh
http://www.twitter.com/dryadusingh
Sydney, 23rd October, 2014
Happy Diwali
May this Diwali bring you and your family all the joy, success, health and wealth!
May there be Peace in the whole world!
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On This Diwali Lets pray to Almighty God for :
ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय ।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।
मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Om Asato Maa Sad-Gamaya |
Tamaso Maa Jyotir-Gamaya |
Mrtyor-Maa Amrtam Gamaya |
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||
Meaning:
1: Om, Lead us from Unreality (of Transitory Existence) to the Reality (of Self),
2: Lead us from the Darkness (of Ignorance) to the Light (of Spiritual Knowledge),
3: Lead us from the Fear of Death to the Knowledge of Immortality.
4: Om Peace, Peace, Peace.
Brihadaranyaka, Upanishad 1.3.28
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Happy Diwali! Happy new year!!
From Dr Yadu Singh & family
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Australia has a substantial numbers of people of Indian heritage. It is approximately >250000. With students from India, this goes above >350000. It is going to increase as Indians have formed a good chunk of the total Australian immigrants over the last several years.
One of the things we have seen lately is the fact that there are Indian functions almost every weekend. In Sydney alone, we have had 6 Diwali functions including a big Diwali fair in Parramatta stadium. This Hindu Council of Australia fair was impressive and the biggest fair for/by Indian community. This is great.
With increased numbers, problems faced by some of us have also increased. It is expected. There are some issues however which appear to be more pertinent for our community. Students’ issues is one such example. There is a large number of ex-students who are in a bridging visa and are in fact in a limbo as the processing of their applications has not been progressing.
Negative portrayal of Australia by Indian media last year was often hysterical and imbalanced. This was not fair. Issues were there but the manner of coverage was not right. There were heaps of leaders issuing a variety of views which were often conflicting. One leader had a habit of calling every incident as a racist incident without even waiting for full evidence. This type of reporting has a potential to create a backlash against Indian Australian community. I am not denying that there were serious issues in regards to Indian students and Indian media, in fact, helped bring them to fore-front but exaggerated and imbalanced coverage in many cases and overuse of racism word was not helpful. A segment of Indian media literally branded Australia to be a racist country without bothering to check the basis or the facts for that claim.
With the issues created by some students ie documentary frauds, contract marriages and crimes committed by them, the reputation and image of Indian community has had a significant hit. This needs to be tackled too. We have to live and work here and our community can’t afford to have a negative image. Our image of a community of educated people with a relatively much less crime needs to be restored and enhanced.
There are several issues which our community must deal with. Helping new arrivals by mentoring is one of the things which we will need to do as a community. Helping new arrivals to integrate well is a very important mentoring job. Domestic violence and exploitation of our people, often by our own people, must be tackled.
There are issues between Australia and India. The classical one is about the sale of Australian Uranium to India which current Gov does not want to do. We obviously want to see that happen. Non-signatory status of India for NPT has no significance after India was given the India-specific NSG exemption last year with an active support from Australia. India also has a clean record on nuclear non-proliferation.
There are obviously several issues and I have mentioned only a few.
When educated Indian Australians with vision talk about the community issues, they do talk about the need for a national body which can take up the issues which have a national significance for the community. While doing so, they also talk about the mushrooming of “community leaders” every where, many of whom do not have an idea of conflict of interest. Many such “leaders” do not have the pre-requisite for the leadership role. Such national body must be able to work in a co-operative fashion with Indian/Australian Gov agencies including Indian consulates and the High Commission, and business-focused bodies such as AIBC.
We need genuine associations of Indian Australians which can tackle the problems of the community in a genuine way. These associations need to be pan-Indian in outlook and should not have a linguistic or regional outlook, focusing on the language spoken at home or the place of origin in India as the basis for the organisation.
We really have far too many associations and far too many “leaders”. Leaders of all associations must move on after serving for a maximum of two years. It is not a good idea for these “leaders” to use associations as a place for retirement activities. It is totally ridiculous to see “leaders” who are in their late 70s or 80s when they are clearly unable to grasp the situation and needs of our community. Respecting our seniors is one thing [and I too respect them] but that does not mean that we have to put up with their inefficient or inappropriate leadership. Issues of Year 2010 need leaders who can understand them and can do something about them. Our elder leaders [late 70s and 80s], if they have a burning desire to do community work, can do a great job by being the mentors and guides for the younger leaders. Their experience can be invaluable.
All such organisations must work in a transparent fashion. Indian ethnic media needs to do their genuine job to ensure that associations and leaders are doing the right job. Forming alliances with associations/leaders is not a good idea. This is a problem area.
We really need genuine leaders for our community and such leaders must be those who have;
Being “leaders” for photo ops and doing Melas [Fairs] only is not going to help! Taking commissions for their “leadership” is an absolute NO.
Some discussions are going on in these regards and an outcome is expected soon, hopefully.
One must not forget that we have literally hundreds if not thousands of “associations” most of which are essentially pocket associations of our “leaders”. We can see how/why associations-based federation[association of association] at the national level will be a failure from the day one. It should therefore be an organisation based on individual membership, taken from the people who fulfill criterion explained above.
Dr Yadu Singh/Sydney/14th Nov, 2010
http://khabar.ibnlive.in.com/news/35809/2
Smita Sharma, a senior journalist from IBN Live channel was in Australia recently. She has made this comprehensive documentary. She did a good job and covered the issues of Indian students in Australia and sought the comments of Indian Australians who have been here for a long period. Ravi Bhatia of AIBC, Vasan Srinivasan of FIAV, Anupam Sharma and myself were interviewed for this documentary. She managed to speak with some actors from a Bollywood movie on this topic [a Mahesh Bhatt movie which was being shot in Australia at that time] too with the help from Anupam Sharma.
It is in HINDI. It is in multiple segments.
It is a very balanced documentary. It is definitely worth a watch.
Yadu Singh/Sydney/13rd July, 2009
Updated on 11th April, 2011.
Information
Here is my account about what I have done so far and what I am doing right now.
1. Community work in General:
1.1. Leadership roles in Indian community Medical Associations, Continuing Medical education and Health education of general community.
1.2. Helping poor people from our community ie visitors, overseas patients and Indian students when they are in need of health care in Australia without sufficient financial resources.
1.3. Helping poor students in my district with scholarships etc.
2. My work as the co-ordinator of the Indian Consul General’s committee on students’ issues:
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]-now stopped.
#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 involvement in 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.
3.My work beyond/outside the Consul General’s committee on students:
a. helped the refund of >$12000 to a student of a Flying school.
b. arranged legal assistance to the students from this Flying school from a solicitor in Sydney and Canberra.
c.1. facilitated a good outcome between parties involving VETAB, Flying school and students.
c.2. held several meetings involving VETAB high authorities, the Flying school and students in VETAB and my offices.
d. organised further refunds/savings [including waiving of about $50000f the legal fees in regards to a legal proceedings in the Supreme Court where students had lost their case and costs was awarded against them]] for a Flying school students from ESOS scheme with the help of VETAB, DEEWR and federal education dept which is worth >$250000 . I was the key and the only Indian person in this work for these students. I did this as I felt it was my duty to help students from my community who were feeling powerless in Australian system.
e. held meetings involving a Flying school people, VETAB and students.
f. helped payment of >$2400 to a student which was originally denied by his employer.
g. arranged funding of about $1000 to the family members of the “Petrol bomb” victim.
h. donated $500 to a students association.
i. arranged sponsorship for foods, meeting hall and public liability insurance for a students’ association [worth >$1000].
j. mentoring students for their careers and future in OZ.
k.1. donated $500 to AHIA’s seniors.
k.2. donated $500 to Fiji floods relief fund via International congress of Fiji Indians and organized $2000 donations from other doctors
k.3. donated $500 to Sanatan Arya Pratinidhi Samaj, Sydney.
l. donated a good amount [>$2000] for needy/deserving causes involving victims of earthquakes, accidental deaths, injuries and illnesses.
m.1. helping several students including assault victims for their work comp, treatment and issues involving their parents.
m.2. Liaised with NSW Police high ups in regards to the assaults of 2 Indians in Sydney.
m.3. Advised/mentored several others in regards to the steps they needed to take when they were assaulted.
n. established a benevolent fund for the community with further activities in the process.
o. participated as an active member of the working party with CRC on students including inputs for Z card.
p.1. took leadership role via the media including Indian and Australia media [Chanel 9, SBS, NDTV, Indian ethnic newspapers].
p.2. helped Radio National in making a documentary on students [see details in this BLOG elsewhere].
q. raised the issue of OZ Uranium sale to India during the Australia India Day celebration on 24th Jan, 2010 where several ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLC, and media people were present.
r. helped community members’ relatives/parents including FIJI Indians’ when they needed medical help.
s. helped students with their medical treatment of all types when they needed such help. This included getting a student admitted for the urgent treatment of his Kidney stone trouble which was threatening his Kidney.
t. helping the community members from India and South Asia with a concessional fees structure because they are part of my community [a service worth more than $50000/year].
u. met NSW Premier, VETAB authorities and NSW Education authorities on students’ issues
v. did all this work without any personal benefits or COMMISSIONs unlike some of our “leaders”. SEE my BLOG for more details.
w.1. trying to clean the community leadership and making them accountable.
w.2. Exposed commission taking by some leaders of an Indian community association in Sydney.
x. taking a leadership role against unfair portrayal of Australia as a Racist society by Indian media.
y. mentored medical doctors from India in regards to their training and registration issues including achieving a successful outcome for a house surgeon who was facing exclusion from the medical work due to her unfair treatment in a Sydney hospital. I worked very actively with this young doctor and her supervisors including Hospital administrators to get her into the internship at a different hospital. She passed her assessment and is now working in Sydney.
z.1. many other charity work in India including scholarships for poor students in India.
z.2. running a weekly Radio UMANG [Health radio] programme.
z.3. worked as a catalyst in resolving the issues between Indian consul General, Sydney and some businessmen with a successful outcome.
z.4. took an active and a leading role in resolving the issues between Indus Age [after a controversial ad] and the community, and achieved a successful outcome [with an apology and a promise to not publish such ads again].
z.5. Formed a community committee [total 10 people in it] against Visa Capping Bill in May 2010 and lobbied with the Gov ministers and Media against this Bill which was very harmful to the students. Worked actively for this committee, visiting community gatherings, temples and Gurdwaras to collect signatures against this Bill. We also met the Immigration minister, Mr Chris Evans, asking him to not proceed with this Bill. See www.fairgo4internationalstudents.org.
z.6. Formed a national organisation called National Council of Indian Australians [NCIA, www.ncia.org.au] with participation from all over Australia [all states and territories representatives].
z.7. Spoke as a lead doctor in the Health Summit, organised by GOPIO, Sydney, educating/informing people on Health matters on 4th Dec, 2010.
z.8. Helped a family locate their son [International student] http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/a-dumped-bike-a-glimpse-on-sydney-stations-cctv-what-happened-to-indian-student-abhijeet-20101006-166rs.html
z.9. Raised $7100 as a team for Qld Flood relief on 28th Jan, 2011.
z.10. Took up the issue of attack on Sri Mandir temple, Auburn and brought it to the national media.
z.11. Took up the matter involving HINDI in the Australian national draft curriculum-Languages and wrote to ACARA.
z.12. Campaigned for removal of an incorrect map of India in DIAC website and succeeded.
I have not listed every thing I have done or am doing. Much more is being done presently.
I had to write this down because some of my detractors were making comments like “what has he done for the community”.
Just to let you know that it gives me a sense of satisfaction to do some community work beyond my medical work.
Yadu Singh/Sydney/22nd November, 2010
As we all know, we are more than 100000+ strong in Sydney alone. Total population of ours in Australia is 250000+ [350000+ if we add students]. We are not insignificant in numbers. We have fairly good representations in various professions including media. I wouldn’t know for sure, but my understanding is most of us do OK in the economic matters. Several of us own motels/hotels. Overall, we are doing OK although some newly arrived people are struggling.
Indian Australians have had a great reputation thus far. We have been known for our high educational standards, proficiency in English, manners and comparatively low crime. This has changed however lately. Insurance frauds, sex-related crimes, murders, domestic violence, false certificates, poor communication skills, poor behaviour/manners, rorting the system, contract marriages and others have been reported in relation to our community. Most of these things have been in the media in relation to students who have come here from India on students Visa. This does not mean that all students are doing wrong things but a small proportion is certainly into it.
The loss of our image/reputation in the eyes of general community is a matter of concern. This is going to have a serious impact on our professionals and our children. We need to do something about it. Most of us are great people and we must not allow a small section to harm our reputation.
How and what we have to do to redeem/restore our reputation is going to generate a debate. Here are my thoughts.
1.We need to work for an effective leadership of our community. These leaders must be goal-driven and deliver the results based on the agenda of the community. My view is that “dated”, “chronic” and recycled” leaders from several of our associations are encouraged to retire from their “leadership”. There is a need to have a meeting of our “leaders”, community members and media to figure out what we are doing wrong, what we ought to do and how we do it. Someone need to take the responsibility to organise this meeting. That person has to be acceptable to most.
2.To achieve the results, we need to consider an association which is above the region based associations and agenda. Region based associations can’t be expected, by the very nature, to think on the Pan-Indian basis. We need to get out of our regional identities and start acting our Indian identity in thoughts and actions. We need to work for an association which is pan-Indian in nature and is an individual based association. There is none of this type presently.
3. UIA, FAIA, AHIA and GOPIO are our important associations. FAIA really is a failed association now as it does not have many with it. There is hardly anything which it does these days except a few statements which it gets published in its friendly newspapers. Maharastra Association of Sydney is listed as its member but they have left FAIA at least a year ago and joined UIA. One of them is in UIA’s EC. I don’t believe that FAIA can lead us with most of its members coming from “Song and dance” groups. AHIA is not a pan-Indian association and it has not been very active lately. AHIA used to be very active a few years ago but it is not the case presently, despite many very good people in it.GOPIO is getting bigger with more chapters in Sydney and has many great people in it. It is unfortunately still a North Indians-based group in Sydney. Let us see how they grow and what they do. Their USA/UK counterparts have been in the forefront for the matters involving Indians. That leaves UIA which is a significant association. It is not able to achieve its goals, largely because of their tendency to elect ineffective leaders. Its agenda is confined to holding a few fairs/forums and issuing a few statements. Spin doctoring is a significant agenda. It has become stagnant and needs fresh ideas, energy and people. People have been advising them to reform themselves which unfortunately has not happened. As a result, UIA has many “recycled” and “tired” leaders. UIA has the high potentials if UIA leaders want to go there but all the signs are against it presently. UIA GC [Governing Council] has many great people but they have been disinterested in UIA lately. Let us hope that they can do introspection and bring changes. It would be good if UIA can reform itself. UIA in its current form can’t lead us effectively and successfully. My belief is that we should avoid multiple associations as we already have many. There is always a possibility that we will be able to see where we are doing wrong and what we need to do to achieve things for our community. It is applicable to everyone who is in the “leadership”.
4. We need to consider mechanisms/tools to mentor/help/guide our new arrivals. This help is needed in regards to the system in OZ, settlement, jobs, accommodation and many more. This should be a significant job of our associations. We should not duplicate/triplicate our efforts but we should have a monthly/bi monthly meetings of this nature which should be done by the community leadership group.
5. We need to mentor/guide/help our students who have come from Indian villages/towns/cities, often without any real idea about the systems in OZ. Often, they do not know how to conduct themselves in public places. It is our responsibility too to help them understand what is expected from them and what they can expect from the OZ systems. We do not want to be defined by the sub-standard behaviour of a small segment of Indian students.
6. We need to understand the conflict of interest principle. As an example, if I am an education agent or I run a school, then I should withdraw from the leadership role for the matters related to that subject. I can be an advisor but not the leader.
7. Our Indian ethnic media in Sydney has limitations because it depends on advertisement dollars. It often glorifies those who should not be glorified. Newspapers will become more independent if they are not free and we pay for their copies. $2.00 is nothing for us and we need to think about it. I have often wondered whether we need a “real” newspaper which does the job of a “real” newspaper. Not possible until we are prepared to pay for it!
8. Vietnamese community/doctors had recently collected $50000.oo for Bankstown hospital but we are generally not into this type of activities. We are part of Australian community and we need to participate in activities of this nature. This will get us a lot more respect/recognition as a component of the Australian community.
9. A community Benevolent fund is a good idea. We are establishing a fund of this nature. Funny thing is that UIA is also establishing a benevolent fund after knowing about ours. UIA has been around for >15 years and do big functions but they have never thought about it before. “Me too” syndrome is pathetic. I understand that FAIA also has a benevolent fund and Bhavan Australia also has it. How many benevolent funds should we have? There is a need to merge all of them into one. We have to think on this.
10. An accountability of actions [or inactions] and transparency are things which are essential for a successful leadership group. We need to declare what funds were raised, what were the expenses [how were they dispersed] and what is the saving. Every association must practise this principle. Media should take an active interest in these matters. No commissions by the “leaders” please.
11. We need to have effective strategies in the matter relating to domestic violence, seniors’ issues and community projects such as “India House” and a nursing home for Indian community people. Dynamic people with community mind should be encouraged to participate in them. Isn’t is shameful that nothing effective has been done in these matters? What have our “leaders” done then?
12. There should be a community agenda which should be decided based on community consultations and with participation from leaders from all segments and media.
13. Supporting our businesses is a must as they are the ones who often help the community projects by participating in community functions. I am sorry to point out that there is an element of mistrust among ourselves for our own people and it needs to change. Like other communities, we need to become more supportive of our own people. Envy, “Tall Poppy Syndrome”, rumour mongering, character assassinations and pulling down our own people are not something which will help us as a community in the long term.
14. Let us treat our own people with a little more respects. Let us recognise our own people, accepting that we all have some negatives. This is a futuristic suggestion and is applicable to all including myself.
15. Let us develop a more supportive approach to our people where good qualities are recognised/honoured/acknowledged and bad qualities are not.
I am sure, you will have very many great ideas. Lets share them. Lets have a debate.
Yadu Singh/Sydney/12th March 2010
Article by High Commissioner Peter Varghese- 1 February 2010 [Sent by DFAT with thanks. Also available on the website of Australian High Commission, New Delhi, India]
http://www.india.highcommission.gov.au/ndli/article1feb.html
“What is happening in Australia? The widespread media coverage of attacks on Indians in Australia has raised several understandable questions. Are Indian students safe in Australia? Are Indians being singled out? Why are these attacks happening? Are they racially motivated and what is being done to address the problem? Crime is never easy to dissect and crime statistics even more so. We know that Australia is a relatively safe place with homicide and assault rates well below the global average. But we cannot prove with existing data, one way or another, whether Indian students are more likely to be assaulted than students from other countries. Also, with the number of Indian students growing by nearly 400 percent in the space of a few years the number of Indians affected by street crime has also increased in absolute numbers. The overwhelming majority of the half million foreign students in Australia, including the vast majority of Indian students, have a safe and positive experience. That may be cold comfort for Indian victims of assault and their families back home, but it is nevertheless an important point to make. Many of the Indian students in Australia are under financial pressure. Their visa requires them to have enough money in the bank to cover their costs before they come to Australia. But in many cases this does not happen. And when the pressure is on you to earn money quickly you do two things. First, you seek out night shift work because that is easier to get and may pay more. This means that you are more likely to be in a higher risk job such as driving taxis late at night. Second, you look for cheap accommodation which may put you in a higher crime neighbourhood and commuting to it at an hour when attacks are more likely. None of this excuses attacks. And no one should ever blame the victim. But it might help explain why some of these attacks are occurring. Are the attacks racist? For the most part they are the ugly face of urban crime committed by criminals from a wide variety of racial backgrounds. Many of the assailants have been juveniles or young adults acting in an aggressive and predatory way. But in some cases the attacks have been accompanied by racial abuse: something for which the Australian government has zero tolerance and the great majority of Australians condemn as completely unacceptable. If race is the motive, it will come out in the course of investigation and trial. We need to allow those processes to run their course and not make instant judgements based on initial media reports which may turn out to be wrong. This applies as much to the media as it does to those investigating these crimes. So what is being done? A lot. We have increased police resources. In Melbourne, where many of these attacks have occurred, we have put in place special action to target crime hotspots and to run a “safe stations” program. We have given police wider powers to search for weapons without a warrant and to move unruly people on. We have introduced legislation to allow our courts to impose tougher sentences for hate crime. We have set up special consultative arrangements for the police to liaise with Indian and other international students, including a hotline for students who need advice or help. And we are going after the perpetrators. Already in Victoria alone some 45 people have been arrested for crimes against Indian students or nationals. The courts are dealing with the culprits, including in one case a sentence of 18 years for a vicious attack against a person of Indian origin. In one recent assault case, the assailant was given a three month prison sentence within twenty four hours of the attack. The Victorian police are giving a very high priority to finding the killer of Nitin Garg. And our Prime Minister has set up a special task force to deal with these attacks, chaired by the National Security Adviser and involving all the state governments. As a government and a community we take these attacks seriously. We cannot promise to stop urban crime — no government can credibly do that. But we are determined to address the problem, deal with the perpetrators and provide a safe and enjoyable environment for all our foreign students. It is neither fair nor accurate to paint these attacks as the actions of a racist country. Australia has travelled a long way on race. We have gone, in the space of single generation, from White Australia to one of the most culturally and racially diverse societies in the world. Rapid social change has not been without its tensions but, overall, the record is one of impressive harmony. And that is not a journey which can be made by a racist nation.”
Peter N Varghese Australian High Commissioner
Look, I agree, the title of this write-up is dramatic and provocative but this is the question which lots of people are asking. A segment of Indian media is calling every crime involving Indians in Australia as racist crime. They don’t even wait for full facts. It is grossly unfair, inappropriate, immature and ,I argue, racist. Everything in Australia is racist and the very same crimes in India are not. Indian media is doing it intentionally with one agenda only. This agenda is to harm Australia’s reputation. They are selectively blind to some crimes but hysterical about certain crimes.
Let me put some examples to illustrate my point of view.
1. Late Nitin Garg’s fatal stabbing: This was the most shocking loss of life in Melbourne. A 21 years old Indian permanent resident was fatally stabbed at 10 PM when he was walking through a park for his work. This was in the Western Suburb of Melbourne which is known for increased crime against people of all types. There was no witness and the park was dimly lit. Full facts have not come out yet. Vic police is investigating. One Indian minister demanded faster speed in the investigation just 2 days after the crime, while ignoring the fact that it took 19 years for the Indian system to deal with SPS Rathore, Ex DGP of Haryana, who had molested a young lady [Ruchika] and had also harassed her family which led to the suicide of Ruchika. It is a bit rich to hear that statement from this minister. Indian media of course took up the job of branding Australia a racist country. Do they have any evidence to claim that Nitin was murdered due to his race? Do they have any evidence to say who killed Nitin? This is ridiculous and an indicator of the lack of fairness, accountability and responsibility to their profession. Make no mistake, we are all very sad and angry with what has happened. A young man has lost his life in this manner. Our hearts go out to his mother, brother and other family members. We owe it to Nitin that we put sufficient pressure on Vic Police to catch the criminal and prosecute him vigorously.
2. Ku Klux Klan cartoon: This cartoon by a newspaper in India was an outrageous sensationalisation by the Indian media. What evidence they have to claim what they claimed? It is not fair to brand the whole Vic police to be Ku Klux Klan! We are not surprised that Acting PM, Julia Gillard, Acting Premier of Vic, Mr Hull and Vic police reacted angrily and called this cartoon to be offensive. Rather than going on Ku Klux Klan direction, they could have highlighted the failure of Vic police in controlling the crime situation there.
3. Murder of an Indian lady in Westmead, NSW by her husband: It is alleged that Chaman Jot Singh had killed his wife and then ran away to Melbourne from where he was arrested. He is in prison now and awaiting his trial. We did not see much coverage of this murder! Indian media is treating one murder differently from the another. Is this an example of journalism?
4. Murder/burning of Ranjodh Singh in Griffiths: This murder was shocking too. Newspaper reports are claiming that he was a contractor who was employing other Indians. It is alleged that a dispute involving the payment of wages was responsible for the fight and murder/burning. Killers are alleged to be Indians. We did not see much coverage of this in the Indian media. Why?
5. Alleged burning of an Indian in Melbourne: This story is quite unusual and the newspapers are raising doubts on some aspects of this crime. Full facts are yet to be disclosed but police are saying that aspects of the story don’t stack up.
6. IndianTaxi driver molesting a young lady in Brisbane: A taxi driver was sentenced to 15 months prison term in Brisbane but not much has been reporeted in Indian media. Why?
7. Puneet, an Indian student, drove drunk and killed an 19 years old Gold Coast man last year. He was tried and was convicted. While waiting for the sentencing, he jumped bail and ran away from Australia, using a false passport. He lives in India now. Should he not be arrested there and sent back to an Australian jail? Where is Indian police and Indian media? Why did Indian media not cover this topic? Is it OK for an Indian to kill someone else?
http://www.theage.com.au/world/india-urges-restraint-in-reporting-of-attacks-20100110-m0iz.html
http://www.theage.com.au/national/fire-attack-on-indian-deepens-race-tensions-20100109-m00j.html
http://www.theage.com.au/national/the-mean-streets-where-the-locals-fear-to-tread-20100109-m00l.html
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/indian-tvs-unsound-fury-20100106-lu8y.html
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/10/2789026.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/09/2788802.htm
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/indians-in-oz-fear-backlash-over-ku-klux-klan-cartoon/565039/
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/6660657/indian-govt-angry-after-attack-on-man/4/$
http://www.theage.com.au/national/southbank-crash-driver-drunk-and-speeding-20081001-4rcz.html
It does not matter to them that most Indian Australians do not believe Australia to be a racist country. Australia’s rules/regulations and laws are not racist. They are not discriminatory to any one on the basis of colour, race, gender or religion. It is a known fact that every country has some racists. Australia and India are no exceptions. Ask North Indians what they feel in Mumbai. Ask North Eastern Indians what they get called in New Delhi. Ask any one what Indians call Africans. Why is Indian media not taking this up? It is a known fact that every country has a crime problem. Australia also has it and India also has it. India in fact may have worse crime problem. No country is totally crime free. What has Indian media done against crime/criminals in India? Some politicians there have extensive criminal background? Any thing being done by Indian media about that?
By the way, my comments here should not mean that I am happy with the policing by Vic Police. They are definitely not able to have an effective control on the crime situation in Vic. They need to do a review about the ways they do crime control. They should do random and unannounced searches for knives etc without giving the notice of 7 days before such searches. You read it right. They actually do give a 7 days notice about their searches in any particular suburb.Things seems to be better in NSW in this regards. May be, they should talk with their NSW counterparts.
Some “leaders” in Melbourne don’t waste any time to claim every crime being a racist crime. There is one whose comments are outrageous. He does not wait for any evidence. His understanding of the situation is very deficient. I believe he is harming Indian Australian community due to his stupid statements. His statements are irrational. He seems to have some sorts of connection with some in Indian media. His hypocrisy is objectionable as he has taken Australian citizenship and is bringing his parents to live in Australia. Why is this the case if Australia is nothing but a racist country? He is not even a student. As far as I know, he is not even working in the field of his training these days. He claims to speak for all of us. I want to tell him that we do not agree with his irrational views. We also know that he has hardly any support in Melbourne and Indian Australians in Melbourne dislike him intensely & with passion.
I ask Indian media to become rational and objective in its coverage of the problems in Australia. They should wait for the full facts to come out before jumping to any conclusion. They need to cover all crimes even when Indians are involved in committing those crime. They must stop hysterical and selective reporting. Some students also commit crime and the behaviour of some of them is below standard. They don’t know how to conduct themselves. Indian Gov’s advisory is a right thing but did we really need it? Should it not be a component of common sense and should we not know what to do and what not to do? These students are not children, after all.
The irrational reporting by Indian media is making them a laughing stalk and this is making the situation more difficult for Indian Australians. There is a risk that a backlash may happen against Indian Australians if Indian media continues its hysterical and unfair reporting.
The behaviour of a segment of Indian media begs the question. Is indian media racist towards Australia?
I know where I stand on this matter. I am going to let you make up your own mind. Do let me know what you think!
Yadu Singh/Sydney/10th Jan, 2010
http://tinyurl.com/ydontck [Courtesy Channel 9 Australia] My interview on Channel 9 Australia News.
http://tinyurl.com/y9g23l6 [Premier’s Press Release]
NSW Premier Kristina Keneally announced a week long festival of Indian and South asian culture in Nov, 2010. This would be held in Parramatta, Western Sydney, NSW.
It would a fun festival and will show case the arts and culture from India and South Asia. It would include Bollywood songs/dances which of course have become very popular after Slum Dog Millionaire movie and Jai Ho song by A R Rahman.
Yadu Singh/Sydney/6th Jan, 2010
Dear Indian Australians 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. A beginning has to be made to mend/repair the harm to the image and standing of our community.
Recently, a fellow from our community committed suicide in Harris Park, NSW. There were some issues in regards to arranging transportation of the body to India.
Also, recently, a young man died unexpectedly in Sydney. I understand that it was due to a heart illness. The person in question was a heavy drinker and smoker. He was the only son of his parents.
Mental health and cardio-vascular health issues are significant problems in our community.
“Racism” is a much used term which gets used, rightly or wrongly, as an explanation for all sorts of problems. I know one who tried to employ this word when caught travelling on the city rail without a valid ticket!
Basically, we have issues involving health, settlement and leadership in our community which are very relevant for the new arrivals.
For obvious reasons, we will have to do something about these issues. We have to think about the best mechanism/tools to address these issues. We have to help our community where our help is needed. Our community leaders have a special responsibility in this regard.
I do not claim to be “Mr know it all” but I do not mind in speaking my mind. I recognise that others would have good ideas too.
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 United Indian Associations [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 set up the system which is there to help our students and Indian Australians 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 urge 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 think about forming a new organisation with the required goals if UIA leaders are not able/wiling to reform UIA to make it a relevant and an effective body.
9. we take a stand against the rorts/scams and ask Australian Gov authorities to stamp out these activities quickly.
10. we start identifying people with leadership qualities and help them reach the places of influences including political offices ie MLAs/MLCs/MPs.
11. we re-energize 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.
12. we work actively to promote the pan-Indian identity of Indians and discourage the regional identities in Australia.
13. we do everything to promote a better understanding/integration among Indian Australians with themselves and with Australian community in general. The distrust has to go.
14. 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.
15. we and Indian Govt Missions work collaboratively to have a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in a prominent place in Sydney and Melbourne.
16. we network, interact, co-ordinate and execute the health education programmes which are relevant to our communities.
Until recently, our Indian Australian community has had a great reputation. We want this reputation restored to our community.
We must promote only those who have a genuine ability to lead, understand the needs of our community and also understand the meaning of “conflict of interest”.
Let the seniors guide us in our goals! Let us learn from their experience and wisdom!
The community has to grow and we have to grow with it!
Let the debate begin!
Kind regards
Dr Yadu Singh
Sydney/03-10-09
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
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
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.
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
Yadu Singh's Blog 