LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No-894
ANSWERED ON- 26/07/2023
INDIAN STUDENTS STUDYING ABROAD
#894. SHRI LAVU SHRI KRISHNA DEVARAYALU
SHRI SHAFI PARAMBIL
SHRI G M HARISH BALAYOGI
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-
(a) the total number of students from India pursuing graduate and post-graduate studies in foreign countries during the last three years, country-wise;
(b) whether the Government has received complaints during the last three years concerning the Indian student diaspora from Andhra Pradesh and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to resolve these problems;
(c) whether the Government has any scheme/project/initiative for the welfare of students studying abroad and to assist them with their well- being in these foreign countries;
(d) if so, the details of the funds allocated and utilized during the last three years for such scheme/project/initiative and total number of beneficiaries benefited therefrom;
(e) whether the Government has considered setting up any authority/helpline to assist Indian students studying abroad, if so, the details thereof; and
(f) whether the Government has taken cognisance of the increasing number of students going abroad for undergraduate studies, if so, the details thereof and response of the Government thereto?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) As per available information, the total number of Indian students pursuing higher education in universities and other tertiary institutions abroad are as follows:
Table Title
| Year |
No. of students (in millions) |
|
2022 |
0.75 |
|
2023 |
0.93 |
|
2024 |
1.33 |
Country- wise details of Indian students studying abroad as of January 2024 is placed at
Annexure-’A’.
(b to f) As per available information, country-wise details of complaints received from Indian students studing abroad is appended at
Annexure-’B’. Providing safety and security to Indian students abroad is one of the top most priorities of the Government of India. Indian Missions/Posts abroad maintain regular contacts with Indian students enrolled in Universities abroad. This commences as soon as the new Indian students, enrolled in foreign Universities, are invited to participate in Welcome Ceremony organised by Indian Missions/Posts abroad. Heads of Indian Missions/Posts organise Orientation Programmes and brief them on challenges and threats, if any, that they may confront during their stay in the foreign lands and how to take counter active measures. Heads of Indian Missions/Posts and other senior Embassy officials also visit foreign Universities and Educational Institutions in their respective countries of accreditation to regularly interact with Indian students and Indian Students’ Associations.
Indian Missions/Posts abroad also encourage Indian students travelling abroad for higher studies to register with them as also on the MADAD Portal so that their grievances and outstanding issues can be addressed in a time bound manner. Indian Missions/Posts abroad encourage Indian students to remain connected on a regular basis and make all possible efforts to respond to the outstanding issues faced by them on a priority basis. The grievances of the students are responded to almost on a real time basis through telephone calls, walk-ins, emails, social media, 24x7 emergency helplines, open houses and the MADAD Portal. Any complaint received from the Indian students abroad are taken up with the concerned University/Institution and the host Government, as the case may be for requisite action.
Cases of untoward incidents are immediately taken up by the Indian Missions/Posts abroad with the concerned authorities of the host country to ensure that they are properly investigated and the perpetrators are punished. During emergencies or crisis situations, Indian Missions/Posts abroad pro-actively help distressed/stranded Indian students overseas by providing them food, shelter, medicines and ensure their return/evacuation to India as soon as possible. Most recently, stranded Indian students were evacuated to India through the Vande Bharat Mission, Operation Ganga and Operation Ajay from countries around the world.
While some Indian nationals have migrated to foreign countries for various purposes, the Government recognizes the reality that the entire world now constitutes a workplace. Government of India has, therefore, initiated transformational change in its engagement with the Indian diaspora. A successful, prosperous and influential diaspora is viewed as an asset for India. The Government’s efforts are also aimed at harnessing the potential of the Indian diaspora, for India’s growth and development.
*****