Foreign students question their security in Pune

Depressed international students attend counselling sessions post Bakery blast

Students feel that though the city is safer compared with some other countries, the German Bakery blast has had a huge impact on them. Safety has become a concern, but students are not in a mood to return to their countries.

As a result, many students are attending counselling sessions organised by the International Center, Pune University, since last week. Around 50 counsellors from various departments of the university have been answering student queries.

Dr Vasudha Garde, Director, International Centre and a student advisor, said, "We are not only guiding students with basic security guidelines, but also counselling them as they are emotionally insecure. They are away from their families and have no one to speak out their fears with."

Archana Walia, Co-ordinator, English Language Intensive Course for International Students (ELICIS), and another counsellor, added that students want to know if they are safe here or not.

Tessa, a computer science student from Ethiopia says that the counselling session has helped him.

"I was not emotionally down but still needed guidance. I have seen many others who were depressed and have been attending the sessions regularly.

It helped us understand the situation better," he adds.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0

14,000
Number of foreign students registered with University of Pune