News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

Rediff.com  » News » India, Aus to set up working group for student safety

India, Aus to set up working group for student safety

Source: PTI
July 06, 2009 15:06 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

Amid growing concern over the spate of attacks on Indian students Down Under, India and Australia decided on Monday to form a joint working group to coordinate between the two countries in ensuring safety of the students there.

The decision was taken in New Delhi at a meeting between a high-level Australian delegation and officials of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. The working group will primarily focus on implementing measures to effectively regulating education agents in both the countries as it was felt that the agents play a key role in system.

"We have agreed on formation of a joint working group which will help both the governments in effectively regulating education agents," K Mohandas, Secretary in the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, told media-persons after the meeting. He said both sides felt that regulating the education agents was "very important" to ensure safety of the students in Australia and governments of the two countries will work hand in hand to ensure safety of the students.

Leader of the Australian delegation Colin Walters, First Assistant Secretary from the Australian Department of Education, said his government was doing everything to ensure safety to international students in Australia.

"We are doing our very best we can and there is every intention on the part of police and authorities to take any possible practical measure to ensure safety of the students," Walters said. He said the joint working group would also focus on developing an effective pre-departure orientation programme for the Indian students.

The Australian side gave an account of steps that have been taken by the government to contain the attacks while the Indian side expressed its concern over the assaults there on students from the country.Mohandas said Australian authorities "have made very categorical statements both in policy level and its implementation level that such incidents will not be tolerated."

He said Australian universities are also taking steps to ensure safety of the international students. The delegation, which arrived here yesterday, will travel to major cities here to meet state governments and others to hear about their concern and reassure them that Australia is a safe destination for Indian students.

The delegation, which includes representatives of the country's international education and training sector, federal and state government agencies, will travel to Chennai, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Bangalore. Over 20 Indian students have been attacked in a month in Australia, which is home to over 95,000 Indians pursuing education there. These attacks have shaken Australia's reputation as a safe destination for overseas students.

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Source: PTI© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.