Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an international students graduation ceremony at the Symbiosis International University (SIU) here on Monday, Ravi said, "Some of the recent attacks on Indian students in Australia can be traced to the manipulative ways of unscrupulous agents, who have become a liability."

Ravi said, "Indian students are often induced by agents with promises that they can earn while they pursue higher studies abroad. Actually, students in countries like Australia are allowed to work for only 20 hours per week. Trouble starts when the students approach their employers for their pay."

Citing his recent meeting with the Australian secretary of education, Ravi said, "We are pursuing, with the Australian authorities, certain measures aimed at keeping the agents in check on their side." At the same time, he said, "We have to work out certain steps on our side. We are finding out ways in which we can control the agents, legally and otherwise."

Ravi pointed out that the number of Indian students going to Australia for studies had gone up "abnormally" over the last five years. As many as 97,000 Indian students are pursuing higher studies at 39 universities in Australia and all these universities have official agents, he said.

On the sporadic incidents of attack on Indian students in Australia, Ravi said, "It was for the Australian police, particularly those in the state of Victoria, to take strong action against the offenders in a way that the latter stay behind the bars for prolonged periods."

As a confidence building measure, Ravi said, a team of vice chancellors (V-Cs) from the Australian universities, as well as political and social representatives, would be touring Indian cities next month to dispel fears and misgivings about studies in Australia. The team will tour Chandigarh, New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai, among other cities, he said.

Ravi ruled out the suggestion that the number of Indian students going for studies to Australia had gone down in recent months. "I have feedback contrary to such reports," he said. "There is a vast section of Indian students who are not afraid of going to Australia."

Four more NRI varsities in the offing

The Union ministry for overseas Indian affairs will soon invite expression of interest (EoIs) from non-resident Indian (NRI)-linked trusts to establish four more universities for children of NRIs and people of Indian Origin (PIOs) in the country, said Vayalar Ravi.

"The new universities would be in addition to a similar institution coming up in Bangalore, under the Manipal Academy," said Ravi. Fifty per cent of seats at these universities will be earmarked for NRIs and PIOs and the remaining 50 per cent, for Indian students, he added. "The location for these proposed NRI universities will be decided by an inter-ministerial screening committee."

In March 2007, the Union cabinet had approved a policy framework to set up universities for children of NRIs and PIOs. According to the policy, overseas Indian trusts or registered societies with credibility in the field of education and requisite finances, will be invited to set up educational institutions. The applications submitted by societies or trusts will be scrutinised by an inter-ministerial screening committee.

An advisory board including representatives of ministries of overseas Indian affairs, external affairs, human resource development, health and family welfare and associations like UGC, Association of Indian Universities, All India Council for Technical Education, Indian Medical Council and other professional regulatory bodies, will evaluate the academic and infrastructure standards of the university and its adherence to norms set by statutory bodies as required.