Sachinism Posted January 28, 2010 Posted January 28, 2010 A section of Indians who have come to the United Kingdom on student visas say they are facing financial ruin as they cannot find work. Many have been getting free meals at a Sikh gurdwara in west London, as Poonam Taneja of BBC Asian Network reports. It is lunchtime in the kitchen of the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Southall and an army of volunteers are preparing "langar", the free meal available to all worshippers. The kitchen opens at dawn and closes late at night and the numbers of people eating breakfast, lunch and dinner at the temple have soared, according to the gurdwara President Didar Singh Randawa. Most are students from the Indian state of Punjab. 'Ran out of money' Harpreet, 19, is one of them. She came to England two months ago but now she is penniless and homeless. "There were four of us in one room, every girl was paying £150 ($242) a month in rent," she explained. "We lived there for two months and then ran out of money." Harpreet travelled to Britain on a student visa with her childhood friend Manjit. In Punjab they paid an agent thousands of dollars to arrange their journey and were assured they would be able to find jobs in the UK to pay for their food and accommodation. Foreign students are allowed to work 20 hours per week but the pair speak little English and have not found any employment. Manjit is now desperately worried about the debts they have already incurred. "It was the money our parents saved for our dowries. It was $11,306 (£7,000)," she said. "We don't have anywhere to turn and we are not getting work. We can't even give our parents their money back. We've lost everything." Those coming to the UK as students have to go to college to fulfil the criteria of their visas and, while there will be those in the UK for educational purposes, the main motivation of many spoken to by the BBC Asian Network is to earn money. And, even those fortunate enough to have found jobs say they are often exploited by their employers. Warning "The don't pay us," says Sukhdev Singh, who arrived in Southall five months ago. "I've worked in factories where the boss is a Sikh like me. He claims to be religious but he conned us out of our money." The number of students coming to the UK from India and Bangladesh has nearly tripled since last April when a new points-based immigration system was introduced. A Freedom of Information request showed that between June and August this year the British High Commissions in Mumbai (Bombay), Delhi and Dhaka issued 19,950 student visas. Immigration lawyer Harjap Singh Bhangal believes this has led to an influx of south Asians who want a student visa to find jobs. "The large majority of them are not genuine students, especially from Punjab," he said. "They've come here to work in the guise of student visas." He is now worried the problem is causing resentment among the local Indian community who settled here in the 1960s. "There is some tension in our community," Mr Bhangal explained. "The Indian people who are established here feel that the students are giving them a bad name because the students have been seen begging door-to-door and sleeping in the streets." Gurdawara President Mr Randawa says he has even heard of some desperate female students turning to prostitution to pay the rent and warned those travelling to the United Kingdom to study aginst it unless they can financially support themselves. He says the gurdwara is trying to help but there are limits to what they can do. Mr Randawa's advice for Indian's considering travelling the UK to study is simple. "There are no jobs and, if you want to come to study, please make sure you have sufficient funds with you for at least six months," he said. Travel agencies in Southall we spoke to say a growing number of students are now returning to Punjab with their dreams of a prosperous new life in England shattered. Although Ealing Southall Labour MP Virendra Sharma sympathises with the plight of these students, he says many have only themselves to blame. "If they can't find a job, then they have to go back because they have broken a contract," he said. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8481493.stm This article covers Punjabi students mainly, but there are a tonne of Gujis here as well. These people don't understand there aren't jobs here and come here because some random person told them they'll get into a good uni and be able to get a job. There have been quite a few people commiting suicide because they're not able to get a job to pay rent or send money back home. There's people coming over who have soo much money back home, they come over and live in a room with 6 other people :headshake: That one person said they pay £150 rent per month, that is quite good, because the going rate here is £55/week You bloody Indians, stop coming here.
I_India Posted January 28, 2010 Posted January 28, 2010 Basket case of Europe = UK :giggle: Few more rotten eggs from India ay gaye to ane do. Love it when old time desis tell FOB the desis to go back. The irony. Btw in the age of internetz how can people not be aware that it ain't a free ride in Europe. That also for overseas students who can't speak English?
Clarke Posted January 28, 2010 Posted January 28, 2010 This is the story across the world for some Indians. Lack of knowledge of foreign shores and high expectations of finding instant jobs with reasonable pay has led to this. The so called agencies have sent tens of thousands of workers to the middle east & students to the developed nations selling them a fake rosy picture. You bloody Indians, stop coming here. Thats a bit harsh especially if its coming from a second generation immigrant. Not everyone has the knowledge and ability to ensure everything is in the right place to move abroad. The third grade universities of your country also encourage this to make some quick money from these ignorant folks. The consulates relax their checks as well since it supports the economy of their home country. Both sides, India & the developed nations need to work together to sort these issues. Sure, the source may be India/Indians, but your country cannot claim to be completely innocent in this regard.
Sachinism Posted January 28, 2010 Author Posted January 28, 2010 OK that may have been a bit harsh, but its something I'm saying for their own good. I've spoken to a whole bunch of them and what is happening to them is not nice. There are agents in India who approach these students and tell them they can get into top universities and come to UK. These students pay the fees and come here to find they're not going to a top university but a old house that has been transformed into a college. These people are struggling to find jobs. I know one guy who is working in an Off License (grocery+alcohol) store, 16 hours a day, 6 days a week and he gets paid £60. Not even £1 an hour. His weekly rent is £55 :WTF: People I know who've come from India, tell me of friends of theirs or just girls that they know who've gone into prostitution. It might have been OK before when there weren't so many, but lately we've had a surge of Indians coming here. Some have jobs, they're decent paying, but they're limited to 20 hours, obviously some manage to get more hours here and there, but there aren't jobs for everyone. These people pay around £7000 to come here, I don't know how much money they bring, but some soon that money runs out, you wanna send money home, you wanna feed yourself, but you can't, people are resorting to crime, some people even resort to suicide
ViruRulez Posted January 28, 2010 Posted January 28, 2010 OK that may have been a bit harsh, but its something I'm saying for their own good. I've spoken to a whole bunch of them and what is happening to them is not nice. There are agents in India who approach these students and tell them they can get into top universities and come to UK. These students pay the fees and come here to find they're not going to a top university but a old house that has been transformed into a college. These people are struggling to find jobs. I know one guy who is working in an Off License (grocery+alcohol) store, 16 hours a day, 6 days a week and he gets paid £60. Not even £1 an hour. His weekly rent is £55 :WTF: People I know who've come from India, tell me of friends of theirs or just girls that they know who've gone into prostitution. It might have been OK before when there weren't so many, but lately we've had a surge of Indians coming here. Some have jobs, they're decent paying, but they're limited to 20 hours, obviously some manage to get more hours here and there, but there aren't jobs for everyone. These people pay around £7000 to come here, I don't know how much money they bring, but some soon that money runs out, you wanna send money home, you wanna feed yourself, but you can't, people are resorting to crime, some people even resort to suicide It is their own mistake. I dont know what is this lust for firangi job. Nowadays there are thousands of MNCs in India and they can waste less money of their parents and then get a good job here in India. But they and sometimes their parents too are adamant that they would go to UK, Canada, US or any other firangi country instead of working in their own country. I dont blame anyone else except them for a mess. If the university would have been that great then how come they would get admission so easily. They should have basic knowledge that they would not get admission to IIT, IIM or NIT equivalent in UK, Canada, US etc. so easily. It is better that they utilized the money and energy for studying and then working in India instead. Anyways if they are so talented they would anyways get a job in firangi land with their Indian degree. I see this firangi lust trend especially amongst most of my Punjabi friends who are really crazy about studying and working or at least living in UK, Canada etc. No offence to anybody but I think these people are themselves to be blamed. And the UK govt. is also right in not helping them much. In the future when India becomes a superpower I personally would not prefer allowing foreigners coming here for living and job. Maybe I would never prefer India allowing to the extent to which US, UK, Canada or other countries allow foreigners to take jobs.
Guest Gunner Posted January 28, 2010 Posted January 28, 2010 The UK really can't support any more migrants. This is really the end as far as the UK is concerned.
coffee_rules Posted January 28, 2010 Posted January 28, 2010 Doesn't make sense to immigrate now. Jobs are being exported to China and India.
asterix Posted January 28, 2010 Posted January 28, 2010 How could these unfortunate people got UK student VISAs when they can't even speak proper English?
Dhondy Posted January 28, 2010 Posted January 28, 2010 Basket case of Europe = UK :giggle: Few more rotten eggs from India ay gaye to ane do. Love it when old time desis tell FOB the desis to go back. The irony. Btw in the age of internetz how can people not be aware that it ain't a free ride in Europe. That also for overseas students who can't speak English? The UK really can't support any more migrants. This is really the end as far as the UK is concerned Do you guys have an agenda? Because what you are saying is not true. And it's getting a bit tiring.
Dhondy Posted January 28, 2010 Posted January 28, 2010 There is no fairer, more tolerant country in Europe, and I mean none. Britain is a meritocracy, always has been, and selection panels are colour blind, often infuriatingly so. I know some of you would like it to discriminate against Muslims, like France does or beat up Asians, like Australian yobs do, or perhaps disbar the spouses of immigrant workers from working here, like the USA does, but those things will never happen in this country. The plaintive cries of discrimination and racism are from losers, who use race as an excuse for failure. This is also a place where a minister can lose his seat for buying a train ticket for his wife with government money, the place where a best selling, world renowned author goes to jail for perjury and still refuses to immigrate. Please, please don't get me started.
I_India Posted January 28, 2010 Posted January 28, 2010 There is no fairer, more tolerant country in Europe, and I mean none. Britain is a meritocracy, always has been, and selection panels are colour blind, often infuriatingly so. I know some of you would like it to discriminate against Muslims, like France does or beat up Asians, like Australian yobs do, or perhaps disbar the spouses of immigrant workers from working here, like the USA does, but those things will never happen in this country. The plaintive cries of discrimination and racism are from losers, who use race as an excuse for failure. This is also a place where a minister can lose his seat for buying a train ticket for his wife with government money, the place where a best selling, world renowned author goes to jail for perjury and still refuses to immigrate. Please, please don't get me started. I did not mention racism anywhere. If you feel England is heaven then fine let us agree to disagree. I personally don't rate England highly for quality of life.
Dhondy Posted January 28, 2010 Posted January 28, 2010 I did not mention racism anywhere. If you feel England is heaven then fine let us agree to disagree. I personally don't rate England highly for quality of life. Where do you live? How did you form your opinion?
I_India Posted January 28, 2010 Posted January 28, 2010 Where do you live? How did you form your opinion? British citizen here living across Europe now. I would pick Nordic and some central European countries over England any day (which I actually have). 2010 Quality of Life Index: 194 Countries Ranked and Rated to Reveal the Best Places to Live Britain 17th in world's quality of life index All the statistics aside I feel the difference first hand everyday.
punjabiplaya Posted January 29, 2010 Posted January 29, 2010 I own two shops and we have been in business for a number of years and have been reasonably sucessful,we employ family who to be honest i wish i never did,my cousin who in india had nothing no prospects is now living here in one of my properties and all he does is moan and complain and wants everything for nothing,its our fault, meaning.... all the indians living in uk,when we go back to india for holiday we wear nice clothes spend money buy nice presents for relatives tell them what we do for work and and describe our lifestyle. what do you expect?people want to also enjoy these benefits so they will borrow to the hilt off all and sundry to get here... not realising that in the uk its very expensive to live and not easy to find a job!! They also dont help themselves by not learning english and some of the customs of england! Mind you im finding it hard to find decent staff lol i may pop down southall.. :winky:
Guest Gunner Posted January 29, 2010 Posted January 29, 2010 Do you guys have an agenda? Because what you are saying is not true. And it's getting a bit tiring. I don't have any agenda related to Britain. I made a simple statement of fact that the UK will not be able to support anymore immigrants due to the stress on its economy. My sister studied and lived in London, I have been to the UK many, many times and I live in continental Europe.
Dhondy Posted January 29, 2010 Posted January 29, 2010 Thanks I-India & Gunner. I am not going to jump to the defence of good old Blighty, but wanted to know your views because I suspected you both had lived in the UK, but now lived abroad. The tendency to gloat after leaving what is seen as a sinking ship is almost uncontrollable. British emigrees to Australia regularly post on broadsheet websites taunting those who are left to brave Britain's miserable weather and economic malaise. It is a very British trait- and that includes you too, Gunner- you are a de facto Brit by dint of supporting Arsenal. Yet, from 1997 to 2008- 12 years of unbroken growth, prosperity, rising house prices fuelled by a record borrowing boom, Britain was the toast of the world. It was Newsweek or Time, it was I think, who coined the term "Cool Brittania", eagerly taken up by the ruling Labour party. Diasaffected youths from France regularly channel hopped to London to take up better paid jobs, and all of Europe agonised whether to follow the British model of laissez faire economics and unbridled capitalism. Of course, it was too good to last. Both of you, who now live in continental Europe, have picked up the change in balance of power and feel it's your right to gloat, just as the French or Germans are doing, having been at the receiving end of British scorn for more than a decade. There is also this simmering resentment among Indian 1st and 2nd generation immigrants in particular, about the "preferential" treatment given to Pakistanis. The head of BBC's religious services is a Muslim, the highest ranked ethnic minority police officer (of Pakistani origin) recently sued the Met for discrimination after retiring on fat pension, and jokers like Anjem Choudhary continue to demand Shariah and suchlike. Hard working, law fearing Indians feel that the one who shouts the loudest gets the biggest slice of the pie... that despite being the most successful ethnic group in the UK, they rarely get good press. Resentment reigns too at being generalised as Asians, while the two communities are like chalk and cheese. There are concerns too about social breakdown, a lost generation of teenagers epitomised by the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in Europe, and a rampant benefit culture. This is all trumpeted day in and day out by the right wing press, driving home every spike of misery like needle tipped icicles until your psyche is numb with bad news. Immigrants...Islam...benefit cheats...quangos on the gravy train...fiscal deficit. Oh dear! So I can understand your resentment. Yet, I know, you speak out of frustration, that deep inside you really love this country and hope things will be all right again. Me, I try not to worry about these things, because these are beyond my control. Just put your head down, slog at work, get back home, slog again, and don't let the creeping national melancholy touch you, because otherwise you are a Gunner. Oops, that should have been a gonner.
Lurker Posted January 29, 2010 Posted January 29, 2010 I own two shops and we have been in business for a number of years and have been reasonably sucessful' date='we employ family who to be honest i wish i never did,my cousin who in india had nothing no prospects is now living here in one of my properties and all he does is moan and complain and wants everything for nothing,its our fault, meaning.... [b']all the indians living in uk,when we go back to india for holiday we wear nice clothes spend money buy nice presents for relatives tell them what we do for work and and describe our lifestyle. what do you expect?people want to also enjoy these benefits so they will borrow to the hilt off all and sundry to get here... not realising that in the uk its very expensive to live and not easy to find a job!! They also dont help themselves by not learning english and some of the customs of england! Mind you im finding it hard to find decent staff lol i may pop down southall.. :winky: That to me a is a double whammy. On one hand most Indians, I dare say 99% of them, fall under the category of service persons, or businessmen with some background in desi culture(restaurant, desi stores etc etc). Desi businessmen are prone to have desi relatives as their support staff. This is no different in USA where Gujjus who own bulk of the 2nd-3rd tier hotels(Howard Johnsons, Days Inn etc) practically run all of these with their relatives. Or they would employ immigrants from Mexico, or in case of UK East Europeans. To cut a long story short we dont create jobs for locals. On the other hand when we travel back home we bring back flashy stuff, send back remittances, our family(in most cases) are able to buy properties back home in posh places. Bulk of property transactions these days, specially in expensive areas, are done by NRIs. Thus sending the cost of peoperty upwards and completely out of control of local population. So why wouldnt Indians want to come abroad when they can not afford basic facilities like housing back home etc. In a nutshell we are taking jobs from the locals(professional or otherwise), not creating jobs for the locals, and also inspiring people back home to join the immigration line. I think as a nation we have to look hard at that. As a country we need to upgrade from job consumers to job creators(read entrepreneurs). The day we do that would also be the day we can stop addressing the issue of migrartion in a very effective way. xxx
the_indian_fan Posted January 30, 2010 Posted January 30, 2010 :hysterical::hysterical::hysterical:@impure indians these impure indians r paying the price for leaving india & going to some foreign land. had they been loyal to their country, they would have never had to face these things
Rajiv Posted January 30, 2010 Posted January 30, 2010 I don't know much about UK and its immigration system and laws but I find them extremely patient and forgiving. For a small country, who had influx of immigrants from 50's-60's, are pretty good at tolerating the culture form other countries. I remember seeing few placards during some protest 2-3 years ago saying "Britain Will Pay", "Islam is the future for UK" ( just an example ). I was like aren't these people british citizens?, and they are openly critizing the country they are living in. The cops are letting them protest with that kind of language and people see that stuff on TV. They obviously know whats going on and I believe they have some BNP party who stand up for them but still you got to hand to them, they have some patience to tolerate such nonsense. I am sure many are born immigrants and they have no respect for the country ( I guess the majority of this goes to Pakistanis, Indians ) who have assimilated in British culture since years. Also, every freaking political kick out from Pakistan gets shelter there ( Sharif, that Altaf, Bhutto, even Musharraf) and the UK Govt pay for their security i.,e tax payers Seriously, why would anyone want a mess like this in their house. I think all these things count up and they have to adjust somewhere so blindly calling UK a bad for immigrants is not correct
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