Plans To Repatriate Fijians In India

The Fiji High Commission in New Delhi is making arrangements to repatriate Fijians stuck in India.

In a message to students studying under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) scholarship in various universities in India, the High Commission said the flight was scheduled for May 7th, 2020.

All Fijians wishing to return home will pay at their own cost. The fare quoted was NZD$5000 (F$6,857).

Universities have been proactive and have advised ICCR scholarship students to carefully consider about returning home.

“The students who will have a considerably higher number of backlogs in previous semesters, there is a high probability that due to your absence in the summer 2020 exams, you may get detention. You must consider such consequences while deciding about going back to your home countries,” read the statement.

“There is also a probability that due to the restrictions on international travel in a few upcoming months, you may not be able to return timely when your next academic term starts.”

Shahani Mala, a final year Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) studying in Pune, said she was adamant to complete her studies by July and had opted to stay.

Two other Fijian students studying Masters in Psychology and Masters In Law based in Pune have also opted to stay.

Ms Mala said Pune was under complete lockdown, which may be extended to May 18.

Grocery stores, supermarkets and vegetable markets are only open from 10am to 12pm daily.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in India crossed the 26,000 mark on Sunday. There were nearly 2000 new cases reported in a span of 24 hours. So far, 800 people in India have died of COVID-19.

Feedback: jennis.naidu@fijisun.com.fj