'Assaults on Indian students are a wake-up call'

With nearly 1,450 attacks on Indians in Australia reported last year followed by the closure of a dozen colleges, many feel there's reluctance on the part of the Australian government to safeguard the interest of Indian students. The Federation of Indian Students of Australia Inc (FISA) is one such body. In a telephonic interview from Australia, Amit Menghani, president, FISA, shares his views on the subject with Chitra Unnithan.

As a representative for Indian students in Australia, what measures are you taking to assure students?

We represent students and are working with them to ensure they are well looked after. We are trying to work with the authorities and the local councils to address the key issues of the students. But, due to lack of funding from the government, our resources are very limited. However, we have people such as lawyers and doctors who work with us to ensure the welfare of the students.

The assaults on the Indian students can be termed as a wake-up call for the students as well as the authorities. The inconsistency and reluctance shown by the government in supporting Indian students has led to students losing faith in the system. In fact, Indian students who graduate from Australia can be the brand ambassadors for this country, but the situation is such that they feel unsafe and confused whether they should go out and work or just sit at home fearing safety. Incidentally, the number of aspiring Indian students to Australia has dropped dramatically.

At this stage, it's just Indian students community whose plight is being reported. There are other communities also that are attacked but they are hesitant to come out and report those incidents. We even asked the Victoria police to give us statistics as to how many attacks in all have taken place on all communities studying in Australia but they refuse to release such statistics, even denying the existence of it.

Are the alleged attacks reported so far, triggered by racism or a result of personal enmity or attempt to rob?

Racial violence does exist in the society and should not be tolerated under any circumstances. Some of the attacks on Indian students were indeed racially motivated. Some have also been confirmed by the authorities. Australia's image as an education destination may still hold its value.

However, given the circumstances, it is viable for the students to do their homework and be aware of the situation. They should choose the right university, obtain the right information from the right sources, after all, it is a matter of their future. Safety remains a problem. However, the acceptance of the problem will lead to creation of solutions.

Are students losing faith in the Australian system?

Yes, students are losing confidence in the system because the system itself it not interested in addressing the issue. Students are confused and they are going through a lot of problems. The Australian system has failed to look into the matter and unless they accept it, students' life in Australia may not be as fruitful as they think. Lack of resources and infrastructure is another cause of concern for the students.

Attacks can only be avoided if the system takes things seriously. The reluctance from the authorities is the reason why students don't feel safe. The officials have to work harder to make students' life better in Australia. As such, till date no one has shown accountability for such acts. Also, no one has answered who is responsible to ensure the safety of Indian students and Indian citizens in Australia.

Do you think both the Indian and Australian governments can do more to protect the interests of Indians in Australia, be it the racial attacks or the closure of colleges?

Yes, both the governments should take responsibility to ensure that the welfare and safety of its students is well protected. Lack of communication has caused the situation to go worse. Both the governments should probably work together. The question should be, "are we in a better situation as compared to two years ago?" Probably not, so this gap needs to be filled and both the authorities need to work with the students to ensure that student life in Australia is well protected, and looked after.