Provides shelter, financial assistance to those pursuing higher studies
Phagwara, Punjab: A Punjabi NRI fraternity in Canada has formed an NGO named Sukhmani Heaven, for the benefit of Punjabi students, mainly girls, coming on student visas to study in Canada, a special report in The Tribune, Chandigarh, says
Founder member of the NGO, Dr Gurcharan Singh Sayan, a cardiologist and his wife Dr Jaswinder Kaur now on a visit to Punjab, said the NGO had been formed in collaboration with prominent NRIs, including doctors, lawyers, businessmen, politicians, in Canada.
The NRI community in Canada is concerned over the reports of exploitation of Indian students. “Our aim is that not only girls but their parents in Punjab also contact us directly so that those in need of help could be reached out immediately”, said Dr Gurcharan.
He said the main objective of the NGO was to assist girl students from Punjab so that they were not subjected to economic, mental and physical exploitation in the foreign land. He added in absence of any support, there had been reports that students had even committed suicide.
He said although the Canadian Police and the administration, besides the Indian Embassy, were taking steps to help such students, many still face problems
He said the youth from Punjab are increasingly turning to Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and several other countries for higher education. In such a scenario, it became vital to help girl students especially, as there had been cases of exploitation making media headlines in the recent past, Dr Sayan said.
“The Punjabi NRIs settled abroad are concerned about the youth moving to foreign shores. The NGO seriously looks into any case that comes to its notice. To date, there are 15 cases in which girls have been extended all kinds of help, including financial, and jobs,” he said.
Dr Syan said the NGO had made arrangements for a rented house in which girls who do not have money to pay rent were given shelter.
“Our aim is that not only girls but their parents in Punjab also contact us directly so that those in need of help could be reached out immediately,” he said.
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