“Many students who arrive with sufficient funds for their first five years often find themselves drawn into illegal activities to make ends meet.”
Sukhi Bath, a prominent Non-Resident Indian (NRI) businessman and philanthropist hailing from Patara village in Jalandhar, has a crucial piece of advice for students considering Canada as their study destination. He suggests that parents and guardians should think twice before sending their children to Canada unless they can allocate a substantial budget of Rs 50 lakh for their expenses over the next five years. This sum would cover living costs, in addition to college fees and the initial Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) fee for the first year.
Bath, currently residing in Surrey, British Columbia, has been closely observing the experiences of Punjabi students in Canada for the past five decades. According to him, many students who arrive with sufficient funds for their first five years often find themselves drawn into illegal activities to make ends meet.
He emphasizes the harsh realities faced by these students, citing skyrocketing rents that can reach up to 1,600 Canadian dollars per month. Due to limited space, students often share cramped accommodations, leading to a stressful living environment. Employment opportunities are not as abundant as the number of students, and some employers take advantage by offering low wages for long hours of work. This challenging situation has resulted in some students turning to drugs and, tragically, losing their lives.
Bath recommends that they first learn essential life skills, such as cooking, and possibly attend short courses or classes to prepare themselves for the challenges they may encounter in a foreign land
Bath’s deep concern for these students led him to establish the Punjab Bhawan NGO in Surrey, where he actively engages with them. The NGO operates without external funding and regularly organizes conferences for Punjabi students to voice their concerns and grievances. They provide assistance in finding rental accommodation, job opportunities, applying for driving licenses, and preparing resumes.
Highlighting the significant financial outflow from Punjab to Canada, which amounts to Rs 68,000 crore annually, Bath underscores the need for the Canadian government to establish a toll-free helpline for these students. He has been advocating for this cause and plans to address it at the upcoming conference scheduled for October 8-9 in Surrey.
Bath has also taken on the role of guiding Punjabi students aspiring to study in Canada, offering valuable insights and recommendations. He advises students to consider postponing their plans, as the country currently faces severe space and job shortages. He suggests that students should not rush to Canada immediately after finishing school, as they may not be adequately prepared for independence at the young age of 17. Instead, he recommends that they first learn essential life skills, such as cooking, and possibly attend short courses or classes to prepare themselves for the challenges they may encounter in a foreign land.
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