Ex- Canadian MP Dhalla concerned over brain drain
Monday, 03/12/2012
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PATIALA: Showing serious concern over the problem of ‘ brain drain’ from India in general and Punjab in particular, former Canadian member of Parliament Ruby Dhalla has advised the Punjab government to allow foreign universities set up their sister campuses in the state.
Punjabi Sabhyachaar Sath president Tejinder Fatehpur welcoming former Canadian MP Ruby Dhalla in Patiala on Sunday.
On her visit to Patiala on Sunday after attending the inaugural ceremony of Kabaddi world cup at Bathinda, Dhalla said it has been witnessed that majority of t he youth f rom Punjab who go to Canada on study visas don’t return after completion of their courses.
“This is a serious problem as the trend will lead to unemployment among the Punjabi youth in future in Canada,” she said.
“Once foreign universities are in Punjab, students may have better opportunities in their own state. Moreover, it will be possible for everyone to get cheaper education than spending lakhs of rupees abroad,” she said, while adding that she would take up matter with the Punjab government. Dhalla expressed concern over the recent changes in immigration laws in Canada, which made it difficult to get visas and permanent residency.
“It is unfair to change rules for those also who were waiting for past seven years to get visas and permanent residency for parents. The government is focusing more on giving students and business visas, ignoring the already settled Punjab community,” she said.
Meanwhile, taking serious note of lack of direct fight from Punjab to Canada, Dhalla said she would meet union civil aviation minister Ajit Singh, seeking seeking restoration of Air India’s Amritsar- Toronto flight and early clearance of internationa flights from Mohali.
