The recent racial attacks on Indians down under have made the government to keep a record of students going abroad. The government would introduce a registration system to keep track of the whereabouts of the students studying overseas.

The government is planning to give incentives to those who get registered voluntarily. But, the ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs is thinking whether the registration process should be made compulsory. One of the incentives being considered is to subsidise a part of the students’ insurance fee. An official said that the registration process would be in the interests of students and the academic life would not be disturbed. 

Though the government has knowledge about the number of students studying overseas, it neither has their personal data nor a hint about their whereabouts. During the attacks, the External Affairs Ministry consulted the HRD Ministry, to know the whereabouts of the students. But the HRD Ministry informed that it had the records of those who are on student exchange programmes.
 

The registration system would be made online to facilitate easy process. The students’ records would be distributed amongst Indian missions, so that the students in distress could easily be tracked to provide timely help. The ministry plans to take action against agents who mislead students on the opportunities of ‘work-while-study’ option. 

The Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry is in the process of streamlining campus placements to foreign varsities. The recent racial attacks have brought about ‘friendly competition’ between Overseas Indian Affairs and External Affairs Ministries. The Overseas Ministry would give pre-departure tips to students going to any country and the External Affairs Ministry is looking to come out with the guidelines for those wishing to study in Australia.