Ex-PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi advises Indian college students in US to be “watchful”.
New York:
Amid a string of tragic and regarding incidents involving Indian college students within the US, former CEO of PepsiCo Indra Nooyi has suggested them to be “watchful”, respect native legal guidelines and urged them to not interact in medication or extreme consuming to make sure their security and safety on this nation.
Ms Nooyi, thought-about among the many strongest and influential enterprise executives globally, issued an over 10-minute lengthy video advising Indian college students coming to the US to remain secure and alert and to keep away from actions that may land them in bother. The video was posted on X by the Consulate Normal of India in New York on Thursday.
“The explanation I am recording this video is to speak to all of you, all you younger individuals who wish to come to america or are right here already pursuing your research, as a result of I have been studying and listening to all of the information about a number of examples of Indian college students discovering themselves in unlucky conditions,” Ms Nooyi, 68, stated within the video.
“It is as much as you to be sure you do what it takes to stay secure…keep throughout the regulation, don’t enterprise out into darkish locations alone at night time, don’t interact in medication or extreme consuming please. All of those are simply formulae for catastrophe,” she stated.
Ms Nooyi pleaded with the scholars coming to the US to “select your college and course rigorously”. She added that coming to the US to pursue increased schooling generally is a “cultural sea change” for a lot of as a result of they’re away from the comforts of their households, communities and ecosystems.
For Indian college students finding out/planning to review in america of America 🇺🇸 : a really helpful video message by Ms. @Indra_Noooyi, former Chairman & CEO of PepsiCo @DrSJaishankar@MEAIndia@EduMinOfIndia@binaysrikant76@IndianEmbassyUS@CGI_Atlanta@cgihou… pic.twitter.com/EWTrdKd4tg
— India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) March 22, 2024
“So once you come to america, be very watchful within the preliminary months of your touchdown right here, when it comes to who you choose as associates, the brand new habits you develop and the way you deal with cultural adjustments as a result of it’s totally straightforward to get caught up with all of the freedoms you could have and assume that you must experiment with all the pieces. Be very, very cautious.” She famous that whereas Indian college students are identified for his or her arduous work and success, there are additionally incidents of some children experimenting with and finally getting hooked on medication comparable to Fentanyl.
“That is deadly. Let me repeat, that is deadly,” she stated, including that these are extraordinarily dangerous medication impacting psychological and bodily well being and can “undoubtedly be detrimental to your profession prospects right here”.
“Please don’t verge into this entire space of experimenting with harmful stuff. Most significantly, don’t partake in illegal actions, perceive the regulation and keep throughout the regulation,” she stated.
Ms Nooyi added that many worldwide college students are usually not aware of the legal guidelines and rules of the host nation. “It is very important know the results of your actions and therefore you must keep alert on a regular basis,” she stated.
“That you must know your visa standing and its permissibility in the direction of part-time employment. Don’t violate the regulation,” she stated, including that the scholars should know the “boundaries of what you are able to do as a overseas scholar in america”.
Ms Nooyi additionally urged college students to concentrate on the “secure areas” within the metropolis wherein they’re residing or travelling. “Please keep away from shady neighbourhoods. Don’t enterprise out late into the night time alone or don’t enterprise out very late within the night time in any respect,” she stated, advising the scholars to exit in teams and with associates.
Ms Nooyi’s message comes amid a string of troubling instances pertaining to the protection and safety of Indian college students within the US. Because the starting of this 12 months, a number of instances of deaths amongst Indian and Indian-origin college students have precipitated alarm and concern among the many neighborhood.
This week, the Consulate stated it’s working with native regulation enforcement authorities to find 25-year-old Indian scholar Mohammad Abdul Arfath, who has been lacking because the starting of this month, in Cleveland.
Indian-American Sameer Kamath, 23, a scholar at Purdue College who was discovered useless in a nature protect in Indiana in February, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the pinnacle, in keeping with authorities.
In January, 18-year-old Akul Dhawan, a College of Illinois scholar, was discovered unresponsive exterior a campus constructing. Investigations revealed that he died because of hypothermia, with authorities ruling that acute alcohol intoxication and extended publicity to extraordinarily chilly temperatures considerably contributed to his loss of life. In one other tragedy that month, 25-year-old Indian scholar Vivek Saini was hammered to loss of life by a homeless drug addict in Georgia.
Ms Nooyi underscored that the US presents phenomenal academic alternatives, and is multicultural and welcoming. She, nonetheless, added that finding out within the US is “in no way low-cost, it’s totally costly and wouldn’t essentially safe a job for you right here at the moment”.
“It isn’t assured. Nor ought to it’s your goal on this globalised world, the place India itself is providing enormous numbers of alternatives for educated individuals,” she stated.
Ms Nooyi urged the scholars to be “very conscious” of the assets out there to them of their universities and native communities, “strongly” suggesting that college students interact with the college help system, the native Indian consulates and native Indian Individuals to be taught from their experiences and search their help when wanted.
She additionally appealed to the scholars to watch out for scams, together with on social media, that will dupe them of their cash and assets. She careworn the necessity for college kids to handle their psychological well being and properly being, keep linked with associates, households and help teams.
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)