Bhubaneswar, June 15: The High Commission of India office at Aldwych in London has sent a checklist to Odia students studying in the UK that can be used as a security advisory.
The advisory was issued in response to in a memorandum submitted by the students demanding a “safe and secure study environment”. The advisory can be used not only by existing students but also those who plan to pursue further studies in the UK.
Odia students in UK had met chief minister Naveen Patnaik (who was on an official tour to the UK) in May and handed over a memorandum containing a list of demands. The demands were made in the wake of the murder of K. Seshadri Rao, a student of the US’s Boston University hailing from Odisha who was shot dead by unidentified assailants on April 19 near the university.
The students had said there were living under constant threat and that the UK had become unsafe for them.
A letter that the High Commission has sent to the students apprised them of the new student visa rules and new immigration rules. The letter said the UK government was aiming to drastically cut down immigration levels, and had announced introduction of “a more selective system” from April 6. The new rules say that only those graduating from a university and with a job offer from a reputable employer accredited by the UK Boarder Agency at a salary of 20,000 British pounds or more would be allowed to continue living and working in the UK.
The education wing of the High Commission also shared a checklist that it has prepared for students.
Advisory
Indian students arriving in the UK have been asked to abide by the following guidelines:
• To register themselves with the High Commission of India, London, by logging on to www.hcilondon.in and clicking on “education”
• Choose a recognised UK educational institution
• To use only licenced mini cabs or taxis to travel at night or use public transport
• To take care of their passport and important documents that should be photocopied or saved in email account
• To secure accommodation through reliable estate agents and choose to live in a safe area to avoid hate crime and racial discrimination or harassment or social problems
• To avoid travelling late in the night and if they do, to keep a friend or a known person informed
• For any sort of emergency where there is danger to life or a crime is in progress, to contact the local police station by dialling 999 from any telephone or mobile phone
• To observe the rules and laws of the country and abide by them
• Not to use alcohol or drugs
• While at home or at a party, noise levels should be kept low after 22 hours
• To be vigilant at all times, especially while travelling with friends and colleagues
• To not gather in groups or gangs, be courteous, and to avoid getting into arguments
