Tharoor says security has been a concern for foreign students coming to study in India

Chennai:

Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday said that security has been a concern for foreign students coming to study in India and it needs to be addressed.

His statement comes in the wake of US ambassador Nancy Powell’s statement that frequent incidence of rape in India was possibly a factor in American students not coming to India.

Speaking to reporters after addressing the students of Sri Ramachandra University during its 18^th convocation, the minister said he is unaware of the context she made this remark but added that security has been a concern for some people and foreigners who are coming to our country need to feel safe.

He also said that there are various reasons for US or foreign students not coming here.

“First of all we have lot of pressure of Indian students as there are not enough seats for them. Besides, very few states have kept aside seats for foreigners. The second factor is that most of our universities don’t have international reputation,” the minister said.

The minister also ruled out new IIT being established in Kerala. He said Kerala eminently qualifies to have an IIT. “In the current five-year plan no new IITs have been authorized. The policy of the government is to consolidate the existing institutions rather than going in for new ones,” he said.

The minister said that Kerala government is committed to having an IIT but in this stage even the procedure involved, it is not likely to happen in the lifetime of the present government. It is an issue that needs to be returned to after the general elections, he said.

Interestingly, the minister has also ruled out that any of the pending bills in his ministry would be passed during the winter session which is likely to commence from December 5. This comes when there are more than 10 pending bills in his ministry.

Tharoor said that the bills are in various stages of consideration. “Some have not passed the standing committee. Some have been passed but not introduced in the house. In the last couple of years lot of sessions of the parliament were disrupted. It is unlikely any of the bills may make it. The winter session is going to be only two week session from December 5-20,”  he added.

Earlier addressing the students, the minister said by 2020  India will be having 116 million workforce in the age group of 20-24 much ahead of China which would have only 94 million. He said the average age in 2020 would be 29 years.

He also said that the country is short of four lakh doctors and quality institutes like Rmachandra University could help bridge this gap.

Chancellor of the university V R Venkatachalam conferred degrees and diplomas to 595 graduates. A total of 51 students received gold medals on the occasion.

Vice chancellor Dr J S N Murthy aid that new higher specialty courses in MD Emergency Medicine, DM Neonatology, M.Ch. Neurosurgey (6 years), M.ch Vascular surgery, M Sc Medical Radiology and Imaging technology (5 years integrated), M Sc Emergency and Critical Care Technology have been introduced from the current year.