Every year, thousands of students travel from India to study in the UK, often pursing courses at private colleges. It was reported today that many are simply unable to take care of themselves; unable to find part-time work, hundreds of students are now eating handouts from gurdwaras – Sikh temples – in Southall, West London.
Since April 2008, the number of Indian students applying to study in the UK has increased by more than three times, with many students reliant on finding part-time work to fund their maintenance costs while in the UK. A recent documentary conducted by BBC Radio 5 revealed that the situation is desperate for many students, who often refuse to return home for fear of the shame that would fall upon them and their families.
Southall in London is known locally as “little India” and with over 55% of the local population being Indian and Pakistani, there are many temples to be found in the area. As is common with many East Asian religions, help and charity can be sought from temples and many unfortunate students who’ve found themselves in this situation flock to Southall for free food and lodgings. A student interviewed for the BBC documentary highlighted the plight they face: “I can’t afford to rent a room, I’m borrowing money from relatives at home just to buy my bus fare to college. I will only be able to rent a room if I can find a job, if I can’t find one I will return to India.”
“But that will bring great shame. I don’t know how I will return the money I have borrowed.”
A brutal combination of the recession and a sharp increase in the number of South Asian students in the UK have been major contributors to the problem, according to Didar Sing Randhawa, President of Sri Guru Singh Sabha. He went on to say, “We see hundreds of students hanging out in the streets, but there could be thousands. Most come here every day for food. We are happy to provide food.”
In 2009 the situation was same even in India, most of the students who has completed their degrees used to roam around the streets. There were lot of layoffs and no part time jobs even in India as a bad recession hit the country.
I hope now the situation is better in UK as the world economy is in boom and most of the students might be alerted after reading this blog to make necessary arrangements of their funds
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It was sad to read of the homeless and hungry Indian students in London. Not a very pleasant or happy situation.
I wonder what happened to the money declared in their bank account when applying for their student visa. Was the amount sufficient for fees and boarding?
I wonder …
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Very nice Blog, I will tell my friends about it.
Thanks
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wow
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