Amid hope to return to China, Medical Students Worried about Extra Expenses

New Delhi: While the Indian Medical students enrolled in Chinese Institutes are hopeful to return to China after the Indian Embassy in China announced about such possibilities recently, they are also worried about additional expenses that are waiting for them in the process of return.

This dilemma emerged after the Indian Embassy directed the Indian students to fill up Google Forms with relevant information and announced that the Chinese authorities will verify the list and indicate if the identified students can travel to China for completing the course.

It was further mentioned in the Release that eligible students should unconditionally abide by the Covid-19 prevention measures, and agree to bear all expenses related to Covid-19 prevention measures by themselves.

Following this, the students are now worried about the extra expenses for buying a flight ticket or hotel quarantine cost. In fact, they are also unsure about process and criteria that shall be used for selecting the students who will be allowed to go back to China to attend offline lectures.

The Press Release dated April 29, 2022 mentioned, "Following the meeting of External Affairs Minister of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar with the State Councilor and Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China, Mr. Wang Yi on 25 March 2022, the Chinese side has expressed its willingness to consider facilitating the return of Indian Students to China on a need-assessed basis."

"In order to facilitate this, the Indian Embassy intends to prepare a list of such students which will be shared with the Chinese side for their consideration. Therefore, Indian Students are requested to provide necessary information by filling up the Google Form at this link (https://forms.gle/MJmgByc7BrJj9MPv7), latest by 08 May 2022," further mentioned the Release.

"Once the collated information is shared with the Chinese side, they would consult relevant Chinese departments to verify the list and indicate whether the identified students can travel to China to complete the course. This coordination process would be carried out in a time-bound manner," it added.

Clearly, the students are not sure the criteria that will be used by the Chinese authorities to select the students who will get to attend offline classes in their parent institutions. The google form reportedly collected details such as name, university name, graduating year, passport details and if the students are able to bear their own expenses including flight tickets and hotel quarantine costs.

The Release from the Indian Embassy further clarified that the extra expenses related to Covid-19 prevention measures shall be paid by the students only. It stated, "The Chinese side has also conveyed that eligible students should unconditionally abide by the Covid-19 prevention measures, and agree to bear all expenses related to Covid-19 prevention measures by themselves."

Worried about the extra expense waiting for them in the near future, a fifth-year medical student from the Anhui University told Mid Day, "After spending around Rs 4-5 lakh each year to complete five years of the medical course, we now have to shell out around Rs 3- Rs 5 lakh to buy a flight ticket and hotel quarantine expenses."

Meanwhile, amidst the confusion regarding the selection process and extra expenses, the Indian Students in China raised alarm regarding the circulation of fake Google Forms and wrote to the Embassy in this regard. "...Since it is a Google Form, and there is no sign of authenticity on that form that is being Officially circulated by the Embassy of India, Beijing, bogus forms are being made," the students stated in the letter.

"Most of the students are not even aware of it and since both forms look similar with just one or two minor changes, it is being easily copied. Such misuse should be forbidden," they added.

Soon afterward, the Embassy came up with a clarification and stated, "it has been brought to our notice that a few fake forms are also being circulated in social media which have created confusion among the Indian students."

"It is reiterated that Indian students should use only the google form issued by the Embassy of India in the above linked press release and that the Embassy will not be responsible for any misleading information in this regard. The students are advised to exercise due diligence in filing up correct form," the Embassy added in the clarification dated May 6, 2022.

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