New Delhi: Canada recorded the highest number of Indian student deaths abroad (91) since 2018, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) told Rajya Sabha in response to a question Thursday.
V. Muraleedharan, minister of state in the Ministry of External Affairs, told the House that since 2018, there have been 403 recorded deaths of Indian students studying abroad. These deaths are due to a number of reasons that include natural causes, accidents, and medical conditions, the data showed.
The UK (48), Russia (40), the US (36), and Australia (35) recorded the most student deaths after Canada, the minister said.
According to the data that MEA made available to the Rajya Sabha in February 2023, 5,67,607 Indians went abroad to study in Canada between 2018 and 2022 — the second-highest global destination for Indian students.
The US was the leading destination for Indian students in that period, with a total of 6,21,336 Indian students going there to study, while the UK, where 3,17,119 students went to study, was the third-most soughtafter destination.
In response to a question from ThePrint during a routine media briefing, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that while Canada happens to be the highest numerically “ I would urge they [the numbers] be looked at in relation to the total number of Indian students in that country”.
“Plus, we need to see if these are caused by violence, car accidents, we don’t know,” he said.
“There are individual incidents where there has been foul play etc. Our consulates do reach out to the families and take it up with local authorities, what further prosecution or other investigation that they are pursuing”.
In a written communication to ThePrint this month the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said, “IRCC does not collect data on the deaths of foreign nationals who are studying in Canada. Cases may be investigated by relevant local authorities, depending on the facts of each individual case.”
The IRCC extended their “sincere condolences” to the families and loved ones who have been “impacted” by the deaths among Indian students studying in Canada.
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Reported deaths of Indian students in Canada
According to a report in CBC News on 24 May this year, 22 Indian nationals with valid study permits who had registered with the Consulate General of India in Toronto died in 2022 — four of them by suicide. The consulate predominantly deals with students in the province of Ontario in Canada.
In May 2023, two Indian students reportedly died in a car accident. Five met with a similar fate in March 2022.
In April 2022, an Indian student was shot dead outside a subway station in Toronto.
“IRCC is very concerned about the vulnerability of international students. While education is a provincial/territorial responsibility, IRCC recognizes that we need to work collaboratively with provinces and territories, as well as learning institutions, to develop ways to address concerns related to student vulnerability,” IRCC told ThePrint.
Starting from 2024, the IRCC is planning to adopt a “recognised institutions” framework to identify and benefit Designated Learnings Institutions (DLIs) that set a higher standard by providing exceptional support and outcomes for international students.
“Designated learning institutions (DLIs) typically have international student advisors who facilitate services and help connect their students by providing them with information on mental and physical health services, and other support as necessary,” the IRCC said to ThePrint.
According to media reports, following the diplomatic issues between India and Canada at least one university – York University in Toronto — put out statements reiterating the safety of Indian students in Canada.
On 18 September, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada announced that the government is investigating “credible allegations” of a “potential link” between agents of the Indian government and the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar — a designated terrorist in India — was gunned down by unknown assailants outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia on 18 June.
India rejected the allegations as “absurd and motivated”. The two sides expelled each other’s diplomats, while Canada withdrew 41 diplomats and their dependents from India after New Delhi requested ‘parity’ in diplomatic presence.
“We urge anyone struggling with mental health or other issues to seek out the support services available through their learning institution or elsewhere in their community, or by contacting the national hotline,” the IRCC told ThePrint.
(This is an updated version of the report.)
(Edited by Uttara Ramaswamy)
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