There are 23,000 Indian students in China, almost all of whom are in medical programmes, according to Indian Embassy data.
Stuck in India due to travel curbs, students feel short-changed with only online classes while Beijing refuses to commit to a timeline for a return to campus.
Students applied to the Nantong University on China’s east coast to gain a medical education of decent quality at a fraction of the cost charged by Indian private universities, but found themselves stranded at home.
Going to hospitals and dealing with actual patients is completely ruled out. There are 23,000 Indian students in China, almost all of whom are in medical programmes, according to Indian Embassy data. Now students have intensified a Twitter campaign on their plight, with their hashtag #PMModiHelpIntlStudents garnering more than 24,000 tweets on Monday last and trending among political tweets.
Also many Indian students who graduated from Chinese universities in 2020 found it difficult to get the necessary internships in India, with the Tamil Nadu government refusing to allow internships for those with “online degrees”.
Almost 3,000 students under the banner of “Indian Students in China” sent a letter via email to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 27 urging him to take up their cause with Chinese authorities, seeking clarity on a possible date of return and noting that China’s rates of infection are low, adding that they were willing to undergo vaccination, testing and quarantine protocols as required.
The attitude of the National Medical Commission, which regulates medical education in India, is also a cause of concern. Also many Indian students who graduated from Chinese universities in 2020 found it difficult to get the necessary internships in India, with the Tamil Nadu government refusing to allow internships for those with “online degrees”.
“On the basis of ensuring safety amid COVID-19, we will consider in a coordinated manner arrangement for allowing foreign students to return to China for their studies,” said spokesperson Wang Wenbin.
China imposed even stricter curbs on international travel starting in March this year, barring even its own nationals from returning from many countries including India, amid concerns over new variants. The Indian Embassy in Beijing said in March it “has continued to follow up closely with Chinese authorities” but officials say there is little India can do, until China decides to open up and reconsider its “zero case” strategy, which appears unlikely.