Afghan students studying at Andhra University face uncertain future
The fate of around 130 students from Afghanistan studying in Andhra University and affiliated colleges hangs in the balance amid the escalating crisis in their country. Faced with an uncertain future, the students are now seeking help from the Indian and Andhra Pradesh governments.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 16 Sep 2021 1:57 PM GMT
Visakhapatnam: The fate of around 130 students from Afghanistan studying in Andhra University and affiliated colleges hangs in the balance amid the escalating crisis in their country. Faced with an uncertain future, the students are now seeking help from the Indian and Andhra Pradesh governments.
Around 50 Afghan students staged a protest in the AU campus here on Thursday. They raised slogans like "freedom", "United Nations should not accept Taliban", "women's rights matter", "stand with Panjshir", and "Pakistan stop supporting Taliban".
Around 130 students from Afghanistan are studying in Andhra University and are accommodated in the two international hostels. The students receive scholarships from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. However, their future is now uncertain as they complete their courses and ICCR stops funding them.
"We are in serious problem as we cannot go home and we cannot get money from our parents as the banks are closed by the Taliban government. ICCR has not assured us any extension of scholarship," said a student who completed his post-graduation in computer science.
Another student said the Indian government should help the students by providing employment after the completion of their course so that they can support themselves till the situation in their country improves.
Around 40 students, including five women, have completed their studies and are planning to meet AP government officials and ministers to seek asylum in India
