Melbourne: After the relentless attacks on Indian students in Australia, the Australian universities have adopted a 10-point action plan for student safety.
In a press release some of the details of the plan were revealed, which include:
- Increased police presence where international students live, study, work and travel
- Developing fully integrated communication processes to advise and support students on living
- Ensuring availability of affordable and secure accommodation for international students
- Better integration of students of all nationalities and backgrounds, and promote a greater understanding of international cultures and languages
The move comes after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in his speech in Parliament, said that he is involved with his Australian counterpart Kevin Rudd on the issue of Indian students' safety.
Meanwhile, Indian students who have reportedly formed groups to patrol troubled areas in Australia to prevent racial attacks on the community members, have been asked by the police to stop the practice and let them do their jobs.
The Indians have reportedly formed groups to protect students from racial attacks at St Albans and Thomastown railway stations of the Melbourne's west after a spate of assaults on the community members in the area, The Age newspaper reported on Tuesday.
There were also reports of a 20-year-old man stabbed in a western suburb of Melbourne after he had allegedly racially abused a group of Indian students in possibly the first act of retaliation.
A Metropolitan Ambulance Service spokesman said the 20-year-old man stabbed in the early hours of Monday morning was treated at the scene before being transported to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
(With PTI inputs)