Aus delegation to visit India to allay fears of students

With possibility of a drop in the number of Indian students to Australia in the wake of racial attacks, a delegation of top officials and academicians is coming here next month to promote Australia as a safe destination.

The delegation, comprising vice-chancellors of prominent Australian universities, will also explain the steps taken by their government to stop attacks on the migrants.

At present there are about 97,000 Indian students in Australia.

"An Australian delegation is coming here to explain to us about the measures they have taken to ensure safety and security of the Indian students," Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said in an interview.

Apart from meeting government officials in New Delhi, the high-level delegation will also visit various states, such as Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala, to apprise them of the steps taken by the Australian authorities to contain attacks on Indian students, the minister said.

The delegation will try to allay apprehension of the people who are concerned over sending their children to study down under.

Earlier this month, Lisa Paul, Australia's secretary of the department of education, employment and workplace relations visited New Delhi and apprised Ravi about steps taken by her country to contain the attacks.