The Bahrain government will open an assistance office in Pune for its citizens who are studying in the Indian city. The directives follows after the cabinet sent a letter to parliament approving a bill which five lawmakers from Al Wefaq, the largest opposition bloc had submitted last year.
MP Jawad Fairooz, who submitted the proposal said, “Our students have to travel to New Delhi or Mumbai for consular or other services. More than 400 students applied last year in Pune Universities. If there is an office set up there it would help and guide the students.” The lawmaker also submitted the proposal after he was informed a case of Bahraini student identified as Qassim who was allegedly beaten up by Indian cops.
Pune is the most preferred destination for Bahraini students since the 80s as it provides the right environment and education. Every year an increasing number of Bahraini students apply for higher studies.
Former commerce student from MMCC College in Pune, Ali Mohammed Abdulla Al Muttawa said, “This is good news for hundreds of Bahraini students in Pune. We had to always travel to our mission in Mumbai for paper work. If the office is functional before the next academic year it will attract more students to pursue higher education in India,” he said.
In 2007, close to 200 Bahraini students were reportedly on the verge of being expelled or deported as they were granted three-month residence permits against one-year visas issued by the Indian embassy in Bahrain. Later, the Vice Chancellor of University of Pune, Narendra Jadhav denied reports that Bahraini students were facing deportation from India. He said some students were asked to submit documents for visa extension as part of the norms set by the External Affairs Ministry.
“A total of 227 Bahrain students have enrolled at the university. A significant number of these students have their documents in order but there are many who have not produced the documents to extend visas for another year on expiry of the initial three-month visa granted by the Foreign Regional Registration Office (FRRO),” the Vice Chancellor was quoted as saying in the Indian media.
According to former students, all Bahraini’s with a student visa have to notify the FRRO and issue a residence permit for one year. The authorities have stipulated a $ 30 fine if students fail to submit their documents in the stipulated time. The Indian authorities were upset after some students opted to pursue short term course in Pune while they had applied for a six month tourist visas.
It’s not only the students but Bahraini businessmen who regularly travel to the Indian city. The Bahrain Ambassador to India, Mohammed Ghassan Shaikho visited last year students at the Pune University to check on their progress and ensure that they were not facing any problem. The embassy will now coordinate with the Bahrain Ministry of Education to open the office which would deal with the registration and documentation of all the students.
The Bahrain mission in Mumbai made special arrangements for several students to cast their vote during the 2006 parliamentary elections here. Bahrain, a close US ally has close to 300,000 Indian living and working in the country.
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