Vaccine dilemma, travel restrictions baffle students studying abroad but stuck in India
Several students studying overseas are currently stuck in India either due to unavailability of flights or vaccination norms and visa delay on account of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Not only this, many foreign universities have also asked students inoculated with Covaxin or Russia’s Sputnik V to revaccinate with WHO-approved vaccines before joining classes. Shiksha talks to stranded students who are facing issues due to the Covid-induced restrictions.
All hopes dashed due to lockdown
Rishav Dhiman, who is pursuing Computer Systems Networking course from St Clair College Windsor Campus, Canada, has been stuck in India for the past one year. He said, “In April 2020, I was all set to fly to Windsor for further studies, but all my hopes dashed due the lockdown. I had been studying online since last year, but I have not found it that effective. Concepts are not really clear during online classes. This year also, I was all ready to travel to Windsor on May 15, but the flights were cancelled amid an alarming spike in Covid-19 cases.”
He said, “I was lucky that when I was about to take my first shot of Covaxin, a nurse informed that I should take Covishield if I was planning to go abroad for further studies. I have taken my first dose of Covishield as some foreign universities have made it mandatory that they will accept students only if they are inoculated with WHO-approved vaccines.”
Provide clarity over opening of Australian borders
Daman Singh Lubana, who is studying Master of Management from Latrobe University in Melbourne, Australia, said, “Australia’s borders have been closed to international students for over a year. Though there is still uncertainty over when the Australian borders will reopen, I managed to get myself registered on CoWIN portal and now waiting for the appointment slot.”
He said, “The only good thing is that no other fee, apart from course fee, was charged from us by our university, instead in 2020, our fee was cut down to help students and a special support of 1,500-2,000 dollars was also provided by tier 1 and 2 universities in Australia.”
Ease travel restrictions so that we can continue on-campus studies
Vandita from Kangra, who is doing MBBS from Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang, China, said, “I came to India in January 2020 for winter vacation and there has been no return since then. Though my studies have not been affected much, nothing can replace classroom learning. I can focus more on my studies here as I don’t have to go out for food in harsh weather like in China and laundry is also not a concern. The major problem is that we cannot perform practicals. We see the experiments being carried out, but don’t do them.”
She said, “I want to go back to China as there are lot of things which we can learn only in person. I request the government to ease travel restrictions so that we can continue our on-campus studies. I have taken my first Covishield vaccine and will get another dose in June-end.”
Many students have also expressed their dismay on Twitter via #LetUsBacktoAus hashtag. Here are some of the reactions:
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has asked the Indian students studying abroad to contact their OIA-II Division if they are currently stuck in India due to Covid-19 restrictions or have other similar issues.
"Indian students studying abroad who are stuck in India owing to Covid-19 pandemic restrictions and mobility issues can send their coordinates, that is, email ID and mobile number to OIA-II Division at us.oia2@mea.gov.in and so1oia2@mea.gov.in,” MEA statement read.
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