Arun K. Goel: Let me go back to the previous question. If I may add to what has already been said, currently there are around 400,000 persons of Indian descent in Australia. Indian community is Australia’s fourth biggest migrant community, and students are a significant proportion of that. As of last year there were approximately 110,000 Indian students and the number of Indian students has been growing rapidly, especially over the last four years. Much of this increase took place in the vocational education sector. If I could give some numbers, 2010 we see a drop from 2009 when there were 68,000 students who went to Australia. Last year it dipped to 42,000. One of the main reasons is not only because of the problems associated with the students issue but also the strength of Australian dollar. It has risen dramatically and today is almost one to one with the US dollar. So, the cost of education in Australia has also commensurately risen. The vocational education sector accounted for over two-thirds of the number of Indian students in 2009-10. Ever since this issue came up over the last two years, the fallout has been that the number of prospective students has been falling. Overall we can say that the drop is approximately of the level of 40 per cent of students going to Australia.
Coming to your specific question, yes, this issue was at the centre-stage over the last two years or so in our bilateral relations, but thanks to a series of measures which Australian government took, both at the Federal and the State level, the number of incidents reported came down drastically. They are far fewer though the problems are not totally over, and there are some lingering issues connected with students’ welfare which are under discussion between the two governments.
Vishnu Prakash: Let me add that, as I mentioned, we are very appreciative of the quality of response by Australia. India and Australia have worked in close concert to tackle this issue. And we have seen a series of steps being taken by Australia on whether it is more policing, whether it is more patrolling, whether it is audit of educational institutions, whether it is review of visa procedures, establishment of helpline, counselling, and so on. But it is work in progress. As my colleague said, we have seen a marked improvement in the situation and we are, as I said and I repeat that, we are very appreciative of the approach taken and the manner in which the Australian government have looked into this issue.
Question: As you have already said there are long negotiations and implementation of mutual understandings between Australia and India over the issue of conflicts among the students of Indian origin and Australians.
Vishnu Prakash: Conflicts! I never said anything about conflicts between…
Question: It is my word. What was your finding? Was it a racial conflict or was this just something that happens everywhere else in the country?
Vishnu Prakash: I mentioned in the very opening remarks of mine that India and Australia are fellow democracies, we are multicultural, multiethnic, vibrant and open societies, and both sides have the ability, desire and confidence to take up any issue that crops up in the relationship, and both sides, in close concert as friends would, have looked into the issue and already we have seen a marked improvement in the issue.
Question: Sir, I would just like to get some clarity on the status of FTA. You did say that there is a report by a Joint Study Group. Has that been accepted? If it has been, when are we likely to see the launch of it?
Vishnu Prakash: Very important question. The report of the Joint Study Group has been submitted to the Ministers, and the respective governments are now looking into their recommendations. Once the internal procedures are complete, a further view would be taken on the matter.
Question: Is the Indian Prime Minister likely to visit Australia this year?
Arun K. Goel: As has just been said, this year’s CHOGM Summit is scheduled to be held in Perth, Australia in October. And as a leading country of CHOGM, India participates in each Summit. So, it is on the cards that our Prime Minister would be visiting to attend the Summit.
Question: Sir, this relates to what action the MEA or the government is contemplating in the Anil Verma case, and if there is any clarification on the role of Rajesh Prasad, as has come out in the media, and if his wife is also accompanying him on his way back.
Vishnu Prakash: Let me say at the outset that the Ministry of External Affairs has taken a serious view in the matter. As I mentioned in my earlier remarks, the matter has been looked into actively and with all the seriousness that it deserves. The officer and members of the family have been transferred back to headquarters. Let me also say categorically that there is no question of condoning domestic violence which is totally unacceptable. Once the officer is back, the matter will be thoroughly investigated and acted upon appropriately. The laws of the land would take care of any acts that need to be taken care of, consequent to the inquiry.