OPT allows foreign nationals who enter the United States on a student visa to work in the U.S. for 12, or in some cases 24 months. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

File image used for representation only.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

New Delhi:

United States is a safe country and it “cares deeply” for the well-being of Indian students, its Ambassador Eric Garcetti said here on Friday and assured their parents that “their children are our children” when they are in the US.

His comments during an interview to PTI at the American Center comes in the backdrop of reports of nearly half a dozen deaths of Indian and Indian-origin students in the US since January.

While the US remains a preferred destination for higher studies among Indian students, the string of such cases has raised concern among the Indo-American community as well as the Indian population.

“We care so deeply for the well-being of Indian students in the US. We want parents to know that their children are our children when they are in United States. And, there is a wealth of resources that can help students prepare…in the US, whether it is mental health… and resources for that being far away for home, parents and families,” he told PTI.

While lamenting these tragic deaths in the past few months, the American ambassador to India asserted that “US is a safe country”.

Eric Garcetti underlined that students studying abroad should familiarise themselves, have a network, trusted friends, and should know what to do if there is a dangerous situation, or if there is a mental health issue.

He said in a new country it could just be an issue of common sense public safety, and students might not know which neighbourhood to go to and not to go to and at what time of night, as also what resources are there.

The US envoy underlined that students going to study in the US should know that there are campus securities, local law enforcements, and that “all these things sometimes students just don’t know, since it is a new country”.

In the interview, Eric Garcetti, a former mayor of Los Angeles, shared his own experience of personal safety when he was a student.

“When I was a student, I went to NYC in the 1980s, which was a pretty dangerous city then. But I sat down and listened to campus security, ‘don’t walk down here at night, don’t go there. Here is a way to stay safe’ and this is before cell-phones. Now, in 2024, we have so many more resources, than when I was a student,” he said.

The envoy said American universities are “extraordinary places” to come to and offer overwhelming experience to students, including Indian students, and he wanted all students to have that rich experience.

“The United States is a safe country. And, there are a lot of resources to help students feel protected. But if they don’t reach out, we might not know about the incidents, before it is too late,” said Eric Garcetti, who had arrived in India in early April last year after receiving the confirmation to the post from the US Senate in March 2023.

A pre-departure orientation programme was held at the American Center here for a group of Indian students who have been chosen for various academic programmes starting this fall at different universities, such as Purdue University, University of Virginia, University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, and University of Los Angeles. Many students also joined the event online.

Eric Garcetti briefly interacted with the students and asked them to make the best use of their time in the US and make good use of resources.

“America is a very safe country… And, we want to make sure you are completely safe,” he told students.

In April, a 25-year-old Indian student who had been missing since last month was found dead in the US city of Cleveland. Uma Satya Sai Gadde died in Ohio this month and police are investigating the case.

Sameer Kamath, a 23-year-old Indian-American student at Purdue University, was found dead in a nature preserve in Indiana on February 5.

In the wake of such cases, Eric Garcetti said the US wants to provide students and their parents with resources that can help students to stay safe such as websites, links to organisations, and ways to familiarise themselves. He urged students to adhere to campus safety briefings.

American universities attract a large number of Indian students, and last year, the US consular team in India issued over 1,40,000 student visas — more than in any other country in the world setting a record for the third year in a row.

“With a record number, we are going to see these tragic incidents statistically, whether it is in US, or whether it is in India, things happen to students. And, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said there is no evidence of any connection, there is no evidence of any targeting of Indian students. So, this is really about common sense and arming yourselves with knowledge of the resources and the best practices, so that you can have the best experience possible,” Eric Garcetti said in the interview.

“We see so many Indian students whose lives have been enriched, had such wonderful experiences. We want that to be the experience of 100 per cent of Indian students and that is our goal,” he said.

Asked if steps have been taken by US authorities to ensure such incidents do not recur, Eric Garcetti said, “Many things… We care about the well-being of all students in US, including American students”. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New York:

Amid a string of tragic and concerning incidents involving Indian students in the US, former CEO of PepsiCo Indra Nooyi has advised them to be “watchful”, respect local laws and urged them to not engage in drugs or excessive drinking to ensure their safety and security in this country.

Ms Nooyi, considered among the most powerful and influential business executives globally, issued an over 10-minute long video advising Indian students coming to the US to stay safe and alert and to avoid activities that can land them in trouble. The video was posted on X by the Consulate General of India in New York on Thursday.

“The reason I’m recording this video is to talk to all of you, all you young people who are looking to come to the United States or are here already pursuing your studies, because I’ve been reading and listening to all the news about several examples of Indian students finding themselves in unfortunate situations,” Ms Nooyi, 68, said in the video.

“It’s up to you to make sure you do what it takes to remain safe…stay within the law, do not venture out into dark places alone at night, do not engage in drugs or excessive drinking please. All of these are just formulae for disaster,” she said.

Ms Nooyi pleaded with the students coming to the US to “choose your university and course carefully”. She added that coming to the US to pursue higher education can be a “cultural sea change” for many because they are away from the comforts of their families, communities and ecosystems.

For Indian students studying/planning to study in the United States of America : a very useful video message by Ms. @Indra_Noooyi, former Chairman & CEO of PepsiCo @DrSJaishankar@MEAIndia@EduMinOfIndia@binaysrikant76@IndianEmbassyUS@CGI_Atlanta@cgihou… pic.twitter.com/EWTrdKd4tg

— India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) March 22, 2024

“So when you come to the United States, be very watchful in the initial months of your landing here, in terms of who you select as friends, the new habits you develop and how you cope with cultural changes because it’s very easy to get caught up with all the freedoms you have and think that you should experiment with everything. Be very, very careful.” She noted that while Indian students are known for their hard work and success, there are also incidents of some youngsters experimenting with and eventually getting addicted to drugs such as Fentanyl.

“This is lethal. Let me repeat, this is lethal,” she said, adding that these are extremely harmful drugs impacting mental and physical health and will “definitely be detrimental to your career prospects here”.

“Please do not verge into this whole area of experimenting with dangerous stuff. Most importantly, do not partake in unlawful activities, understand the law and stay within the law,” she said.

Ms Nooyi added that many international students are not familiar with the laws and regulations of the host country. “It is important to know the consequences of your actions and hence you have to stay alert all the time,” she said.

“You need to know your visa status and its permissibility towards part-time employment. Do not violate the law,” she said, adding that the students must know the “boundaries of what you can do as a foreign student in the United States”.

Ms Nooyi also urged students to be aware of the “safe areas” in the city in which they are residing or travelling. “Please avoid shady neighbourhoods. Do not venture out late into the night alone or do not venture out very late in the night at all,” she said, advising the students to go out in groups and with friends.

Ms Nooyi’s message comes amid a string of troubling cases pertaining to the safety and security of Indian students in the US. Since the beginning of this year, several cases of deaths among Indian and Indian-origin students have caused alarm and concern among the community.

This week, the Consulate said it is working with local law enforcement authorities to locate 25-year-old Indian student Mohammad Abdul Arfath, who has been missing since the beginning of this month, in Cleveland.

Indian-American Sameer Kamath, 23, a student at Purdue University who was found dead in a nature preserve in Indiana in February, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, according to authorities.

In January, 18-year-old Akul Dhawan, a University of Illinois student, was found unresponsive outside a campus building. Investigations revealed that he died due to hypothermia, with authorities ruling that acute alcohol intoxication and prolonged exposure to extremely cold temperatures significantly contributed to his death. In another tragedy that month, 25-year-old Indian student Vivek Saini was hammered to death by a homeless drug addict in Georgia.

Ms Nooyi underscored that the US offers phenomenal educational opportunities, and is multicultural and welcoming. She, however, added that studying in the US is “not at all cheap, it’s very expensive and would not necessarily secure a job for you here today”.

“It is not guaranteed. Nor should it be your objective in this globalised world, where India itself is offering huge numbers of opportunities for educated people,” she said.

Ms Nooyi urged the students to be “very aware” of the resources available to them in their universities and local communities, “strongly” suggesting that students engage with the university support system, the local Indian consulates and local Indian Americans to learn from their experiences and seek their support when needed.

She also appealed to the students to beware of scams, including on social media, that may dupe them of their money and resources. She stressed the need for students to take care of their mental health and well being, stay connected with friends, families and support groups.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)