Noida edu body bats for hostel facility for foreign students
The Consortium of Autonomous Management Institutions in Greater Noida has appealed to the managements of institutes affiliated to it to ensure surveillance of foreign students and provide them hostel facility on their campuses
In the wake of alleged racially-motivated attacks on members of the African community, the Consortium of Autonomous Management Institutions in Greater Noida has appealed to the managements of institutes affiliated to it to ensure surveillance of foreign students and provide them hostel facility on their campuses.
Consortium president and chairman, Ishan Institute of Management Technology, Dr DK Garg, said on Friday,“As per AICTE norms, foreign students should be provided with hostel facility inside the campus area.”
However, Garg was critical of the lack of proper monitoring during the process of admission foreign students in India.
“The consortium has urged all its affiliated institutes to obtain character certificates of both Indian and foreign students,” Gang said.
He said that if African students are provided accommodation, it is the responsibility of the college authorities to ensure that no illegal activities take place.
“Their rooms should be searched regularly. Their attendance should be checked. Their activities outside the campus, too, should be monitored. They will be charged according to the standard fee of private hostels,” said Garg.
He said there is even a possibility of some drug peddlers taking admission in the guise of students. He also made a strong case for stricter police surveillance of these institutes.
“There are over 60 colleges in Greater Noida which are home to more than 2 lakh students. There is a high risk of narcotics peddlers blending in as students and pushing drug trade. Youths often get lured by such people and turn to drugs for kicks. They are mostly not aware of the health risks,” Garg said.
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He said college managements should ensure that the students are engaged in constructive activities. “They should be encouraged to pursue their hobbies whenever they have time to spare. They should be involved in extra-curricular activities and cultural events,” Garg said.
He came down heavily on the alleged drug running by some members of the African community in Greater Noida.
“Colleges should form committees and involve police officers. Any student suspected of being involved in illegal activities should be stopped before he takes to serious crime.
Their parents should also be informed and if they still don’t stop indulging in criminal activities, they should be summarily dismissed. FIRs should also be lodged against them, Garg said.
He also proposed more cultural events on campuses that would help foster friendship between Indian and foreign students.
However,the Association of African Students of India (AASI) dismissed Garg’s offer saying the African students can take care of themselves.
“It’s not as if they are providing accommodation for free. The colleges will charge us for hostel accommodation and many students have already paid for their rented accommodations in Greater Noida,” Abdou Ibrahim, senior advisor, AASI, said.